Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency, and the Busan Indie Connect Festival Organizing Committee are gearing up to host the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026 (hereafter BIC 2026) this coming August.

BIC 2026 marks the 12th iteration of this global indie showcase. The festivities kick off with an online portion running for 22 days, from August 7 to August 28. Following this, the physical event will take place at BEXCO Exhibition Center 1, Hall 2, in Busan from August 14 to August 16.

Last year’s event was a record-breaker, showcasing 283 titles from 32 countries and drawing a crowd of 38,273 attendees. This year, the organizers aim to bridge the gap between online and offline experiences, broadening the horizons for players and opening doors for developers to go global. Organizing Committee Chairman Joo Sung-pil remarked, "This year, our focus is firmly on strengthening the event's role as a global hub for indie game stakeholders to connect and collaborate."

Scheduled over the Liberation Day holiday weekend, the offline event is designed to be more accessible for the general public. Furthermore, industry insiders are promised a more relaxed schedule, providing ample room for business networking and genuine on-site engagement.

Meanwhile, the search for 'early sponsors' for BIC 2026 begins on January 22 and runs through March 9. The organizers are pitching this as more than just a simple sponsorship, aiming for a win-win model that fosters indie gaming culture and sustainable industry growth.

Detailed operational plans for BIC 2026 will be revealed in due course. Keep an eye on their official YouTube channel, 'Universe Indie', where they plan to unveil the official slogan, exhibition submission and judging schedules, and the main program lineup sometime in March.