Xbox is heading to Cologne, Germany, for gamescom 2026 to mark 25 years of play with a massive booth featuring 25 upcoming games across 140 gaming stations. Running from August 26 to August 30, 2026, the exhibition gives attendees hands-on access to major titles ahead of launch, alongside the return of Xbox FanFest and live broadcasts for fans watching from home.

Quick Facts

  • Event Dates: August 26 – August 30, 2026 (FanFest on August 26, 8pm – 11pm CEST).
  • Location: Hall 7, booth A-0.61, Cologne, Germany.
  • Booth Scale: 25 upcoming games and 140 gaming stations.
  • Broadcasts: Live on YouTube and Twitch starting at 4pm CEST on August 26 and August 27.

Playable Demos and Booth Lineup

Attendees visiting the Xbox booth in Hall 7 will have the opportunity to go hands-on with a wide roster of games. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 takes center stage with its Core 6v6 Multiplayer on Xbox Series X, highlighting the franchise's ballistics and movement mechanics.

Playground Games is hosting a live demo theater presentation for Fable to showcase live gameplay and responsive combat to the public. Meanwhile, Gears of War: E-Day brings its first public playable campaign demo to the floor ahead of its October 6, 2026 release date, illustrating the early origins of the Locust War and the bond between Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago.

Other titles receiving their first public hands-on opportunities include Minecraft Dungeons II, 4A Games' post-apocalyptic FPS METRO 2039 (launching February 2027), and Makoto Daito's 50-year action-adventure saga STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, which utilizes an innovative combat system controlling the left and right sides of the protagonist independently across three Japanese cities and eras.

Fans can also try the faithful yet modernized campaign remake Halo: Campaign Evolved, test out the new Drift Attack feature in Forza Horizon 6, and experience the National Championship Air Races in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

The broader booth line-up includes early access and playable demos for Alien Deathstorm, Alien: Isolation 2, Bad Magpie, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Crowsworn, Genigods: Nezha, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, STAR WARS Zero Company, Terrible Lizards, Turok: Origins, and Valor Mortis.

FanFest and Accessibility Features

Xbox FanFest returns to Cologne on Wednesday, August 26, from 8pm to 11pm CEST at the Xbox booth. Players can check official social channels and the official FanFest website for details on entering the sweepstakes to win tickets.

For accessibility, the booth is wheelchair accessible and equipped with Xbox Adaptive Controllers upon request, adjustable-height desks, and monitors at select stations. "Here to Help" staff will assist with adaptive setups, and a quiet room with sensory items will be available. Interpreters for American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and German Sign Language (DGS), alongside English and German Audio Descriptions, will be on site from 12pm to 5pm, Thursday through Sunday.

Streaming Schedule

Players unable to attend in person can tune into live broadcasts on YouTube and Twitch on August 26 and August 27 starting at 4pm CEST. The streams feature developer interviews, special guests, gameplay reveals, and new trailers, complete with American Sign Language (ASL) and English Language Audio Descriptions.