The Bitsummit Executive Committee has announced the first info and dates for BitSummit 2026, which they’re titling BitSummit PUNCH.

BitSummit PUNCH has changed up its usual summer dates for some earlier in spring, from May 22nd through the 24th at the Miyako Messe in Kyoto. Exhibitors are now eligible to register.

“The theme for BitSummit 2026 is ‘High Impact’, making your mark on the industry with the resources you have available,” the show said in a press release. “Going beyond just being “efficient”, we believe that through creative purity and passion, games can harness a power great enough to move the world.”

Here’s a blurb on the event:

BitSummit is Japan’s largest indie game festival. Held annually in Kyoto, the event was launched in late 2012 with the aim of promoting unique local indie games to an international audience. The first event was held in 2013 as a small-scale event for indie game fans and attracted 200 attendees. By 2025, Bitsummit had grown into a major event with over 58,000 attendees present. 

2026 marks Bitsummit’s 14th year and the event’s growth shows no signs of stopping. Bitsummit has been featured on major gaming websites around the world as well as local and international gaming magazines such as Weekly Famitsu, Dengeki Online and EDGE. It has also been a hot topic at panel discussions at the Game Developers Conference, IndieCade, IndieCade East and CEDEC.