GGJ Registration Now Open! 

• Jammer Registration is Now OPEN!
• Epic Games brings UEFN to GGJ 2026!
• Upcoming Webinars: GGJ for Indies and G4C-GGJ Next Gen Expert Jam
• Check out Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at Carnegie Mellon University
• ICYMI: GGJ Next and Games for Change Partner for youth jam
• Community Spotlight: Jammer reflects on a decade of determination

Jammer registration is officially open! Sign up to participate in the 17th edition of the Global Game Jam from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 2026.

https://globalgamejam.org/

Be part of not only the world’s largest game jam, but a major moment in GGJ history. In 2026, the Global Game Jam is on track to surpass 500,000 lifetime jammers. Join us as we hit this major milestone.

Up till now, we have over 360 sites approved or in the approval process. However, we also know that in the coming weeks, we’ll have hundreds of more sites coming online. In the meantime, we also know a number of early jam registrants who go to register, only to find no site listed near you yet.

While we encourage you to check back if you can’t find a site near you, this year, we want to make it a little easier on you. Don’t see a site near you? Want to get a notification when new sites have been added? Just let us know here, and we’ll send a weekly update to let you know about new sites (hopefully) near you!

Global Game Jam is excited to have Epic Games as a GGJ 2026 headline sponsor. As we open jammer registration this week, we’re sharing their welcome message with you as we kick off the jam countdown:

Epic Games is thrilled to be sponsoring this year’s Global Game Jam. We look forward to collaborating with the Global Game Jam community, and seeing what you create in January!

Developing in Fortnite gives you powerful tools to help bring your ideas to life, fast – Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) makes it possible for you to create high-fidelity games that look and feel great in months, not years.

Every day, millions of players come to Fortnite to access an ever-growing library of games (known as “islands”) from indie developers and professional studios alike. From action and horror to social roleplay and beyond, there’s something for everyone.

Want to learn more? Head on over to fortnite.com/create and familiarize yourself with our Epic Developer Community, the go-to destination for documentation, release notes, forums, and more.

In the meantime, follow @FNCreate on X, Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube and join the official UEFN Discord to connect with your fellow developers and stay up to date on all things UEFN. We can’t wait to build with you!

Everything You Need to Know for the G4C-GGJ Next Gen Expert Jam! on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. GMT+2.

Are you a jammer between the ages of 18-25? Tune in to learn more about this partner jam between the Global Game Jam® and Games for Change that seeks to engage the next generation of game creators and innovators ages in tackling global social challenges through the medium of video games. ​We’ll break down ways to participate, share how you could win $10,000 and answer any questions.

Looking to level up your education in 2026? Check out this GGJ sponsor: The Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is the premiere professional graduate program for interactive entertainment and emerging media. Rooted in CMU’s legacy of excellence in the arts and sciences, the ETC blends creative exploration with technical rigor in a uniquely collaborative environment. Through hands-on, team-based projects with real-world partners, students gain practical experience while developing bold, human-centered innovations. Alumni go on to lead at top studios, tech companies, and research labs around the globe, bringing the ETC’s spirit of innovation with them. Whether designing the next breakthrough in gaming or using technology to tell meaningful stories, ETC students and faculty are redefining what’s possible at the intersection of creativity and technology. For Fall 2026, their application deadline is January 1, 2026.