Level Up Showcase Returns April 7 with New Venue

Level Up Showcase Returns April 7 with New Venue, Zynga as Title Sponsor, and Over 150 Student-Made Games

Level Up Showcase Returns April 7 with New Venue, Zynga as Title Sponsor, and Over 150 Student-Made Games

Level Up Showcase returns on April 7, 2026, bringing together students, studios, and industry professionals for an evening dedicated to celebrating Ontario’s emerging game development talent. The free event takes place at the Sheraton Centre Toronto and is expected to welcome over 3,000 attendees, with more than 150 student-created games on display from over 20 post-secondary institutions.

Organized by digital media faculty from leading Ontario institutions in partnership with XP Gaming Inc., Level Up Showcase has become a cornerstone of the province’s gaming ecosystem. The event offers students a professional platform to showcase their work, receive feedback from industry veterans, connect with recruiters, and compete for top honours.

New Venue and Title Sponsor

This year marks the event’s move to the Sheraton Centre Toronto. Zynga joins as Title Sponsor, reinforcing the company’s commitment to investing in Ontario’s next generation of developers.

Level Up Showcase is made possible with funding from Ontario Creates and the City of Toronto, alongside generous corporate sponsorship from Zynga, Ubisoft Toronto, 2K Games, AMD, Blue Ocean Games, Sledgehammer Games, Behaviour Interactive, Epic Games, Puzzle Cats, and Uken Games.

What to Expect

Attendees will have the opportunity to play over 150 games created by students from more than 22 colleges and universities, meet the developers behind each project, and take part in the closing awards ceremony celebrating standout work.

Event Details

Date: April 7, 2026

Time: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Awards ceremony begins at 9:00 PM)

Location: Sheraton Centre Toronto

Admission: Free

Registration: levelupshowcase.com

Volunteer Opportunities

Organizers are currently seeking volunteers to support the event. Volunteers will gain behind-the-scenes access to one of Ontario’s largest student game showcases, connect with studios and recruiters, and help welcome thousands of attendees.
Sign up here: [Volunteer Registration Link]

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetrLGc09OcnQrKjHAZW2D_Z_Pd9AgMmF9np1Q8n7g0RdY46A/viewform

About Level Up Showcase

Held annually in Toronto, Level Up Showcase serves as the premier destination for industry professionals, institutions, and students to network, recruit, and celebrate homegrown talent. Canada is home to the third-largest game industry in the world, and Ontario ranks second among Canadian provinces for the number of game companies. Level Up Showcase offers a window into the future of the Canadian video game industry by spotlighting the province’s emerging talent.

The 2026 event is co-hosted and organized by Algonquin College, Brock University, Humber Polytechnic, the University of Toronto, and the Digital Futures Program at OCAD University, in partnership with XP Gaming.

Featured institutions include: Algoma University, Algonquin College, Brock University, Canadore College, Centennial College, Conestoga College, Fanshawe College, Georgian College, Humber Polytechnic, Metro Toronto Multimedia College, Mohawk College, Niagara College, OCAD University, Ontario Tech University, Seneca College, Sheridan College, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto Film School, University of Toronto, York University, and others.

About XP Gaming Inc.

XP Gaming connects the global video game industry through world-class B2B events that drive business, collaboration, and growth. In addition to flagship conferences such as XP Game Summit, the Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS), and XP Indie Biz Connect events across Canada, XP Gaming supports initiatives that strengthen the industry’s talent pipeline. By partnering with academic institutions and industry leaders, XP Gaming helps emerging developers gain visibility, access professional networks, and transition into sustainable careers within the global game sector.

Learn more at: xpgaming.biz
Follow on LinkedIn：https://www.linkedin.com/company/xpgaminginc/

For more information on the event and sponsorship opportunities, visit levelupshowcase.com.