Apply for funding now and be an exhibitor at Caggtus and/or gamescom 2026!

Are you keen to participate as an exhibitor at Caggtus Leipzig (April 17-19, at the Indie Ground) and/or gamescom in Cologne (August 26-28, at the Saxony joint stand) this year? Then apply for funding now!

The Leipzig Office for Economic Development is awarding grants to IT companies for both trade fairs. And who better to apply than game companies?! (Yes, even startups.) So, get your application in!

But before you get started, here’s some information about the funding and eligibility requirements.

Why does the City of Leipzig support participation in both trade fairs?

Caggtus Leipzig is the most important trade fair for the games industry in the region, and Gamescom is Europe’s leading business platform and the most important event for games this year.

The participation of Leipzig IT companies in the Indie Ground at Caggtus Leipzig and the Saxony joint stand at Gamescom aims to represent Leipzig as a gaming hub, facilitate and promote networking with national and international companies, and open up access to supra-regional and national markets.

What is funded?

Up to 50% or up to 70% of eligible expenses can be funded for startups (your company is considered a startup for up to three years after its founding) for participation in the Indie Ground of Caggtus Leipzig and/or participation in the Saxony joint stand at gamescom 2026.

Wondering what constitutes eligible expenses?

According to the “SME Funding Program” fact sheet, eligible expenses primarily include:
– Participation fees
– Travel expenses (eligible expenses are those covered by the Saxon Travel Expenses Act, only for participation in gamescom)
– Accommodation costs (eligible expenses are those covered by the Saxon Travel Expenses Act, only for participation in gamescom)
– Marketing costs

As part of your application, you must complete a financing plan. It’s best to primarily use the aforementioned expenditure items for this.

As the City of Leipzig informs us, your company must be attributable to a high-tech sector to receive a maximum funding rate of 50%. Information technology is given as an example. Easy, right?!

Furthermore, as part of your participation, you must contribute to cluster activities. This includes, for example:

• Networking with national and international companies
• Developing supra-regional and national markets
• Representing Leipzig as a gaming hub

What are the funding requirements?

• You have a business registration in Leipzig.
• You run your business as your primary source of income.
• Your company can be classified as part of the IT sector.

What documents do you need to submit?

You need to submit the project funding application. You can download the application here.

By the way: If you want to participate in both trade fairs, you can combine all costs in one application.

What should you consider when describing your project in the funding application?

In your project description, you should briefly explain how you plan to network with national and international companies, develop supra-regional and national markets, and represent Leipzig as a gaming hub – always in relation to your trade fair appearance. This could include, for example, discussions with publishers, presence at the Indie Ground/joint booth, and, of course, participation in networking events.

What is the latest date by which the application must be submitted?

Whether you are applying for funding for Caggtus, gamescom, or both, the application must be received by email/post no later than April 15th, 2026.

Are there contact persons at the Leipzig Office for Economic Development for this funding application?

Yes, there are, in fact, two.

Daniel Pickarski
Email: daniel.pickarski@leipzig.de
Tel.: +49 341 123 5836

Eric Patzschke
Email: eric.patzschke@leipzig.de
Tel.: +49 341 123 5826

Information according to the guidelines for project funding for trade fair participation:
(1) Caggtus Leipzig, April 17–19, 2026 (Indie Ground)
(2) Gamescom in Cologne, August 26–28, 2026 (Saxony Joint Stand)
City of Leipzig, Office for Economic Development