The Busan Indie Connect Festival (BIC) 2026 has officially confirmed its schedule. The announcement came from Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency, and the BIC Organizing Committee. Now entering its 12th year, the festival continues to strengthen Busan’s position as a global city for game development and indie culture.

Online and Offline Schedule

BIC 2026 will begin with a 22-day online festival running from August 7 to August 28. Following that, the festival’s main offline event will take place from August 14 to August 16. The venue will be Hall 2 of BEXCO Exhibition Center 1 in Busan. During this period, indie developers, industry professionals, and gamers from around the world will gather in one location.

Notably, the offline event falls during the Liberation Day holiday. As a result, general visitors can attend more easily. At the same time, industry professionals can take part in networking with fewer scheduling constraints.

Strong Momentum from BIC 2025

Last year’s BIC 2025 marked a record-breaking milestone for the festival. It featured 283 exhibited titles from 32 countries. In addition, the event attracted 38,273 visitors, the highest number in its history. Because of this success, BIC further cemented its reputation as a leading global indie game platform.

Moreover, developers and players praised the event for encouraging open communication. The festival allowed participants to share ideas freely and explore both the artistic and commercial value of indie games.

Hybrid Format and Global Reach

Building on that momentum, BIC 2026 will once again adopt a hybrid format. This approach connects online and offline experiences more closely. As a result, attendees can enjoy a wider range of indie games. Meanwhile, developers gain improved access to global audiences and opportunities.

More importantly, the festival aims to go beyond a traditional exhibition model. Instead, BIC focuses on creating a sustainable cycle that supports development, distribution, and collaboration across the indie game industry.

Early Sponsorship Program

Alongside the event announcement, BIC also opened early sponsor recruitment from January 22 to March 9. Early sponsors join the festival from its planning stage. Through this involvement, they receive consistent exposure and build stronger ties with the indie game ecosystem.

Furthermore, the BIC Organizing Committee views sponsorship as more than financial support. It plans to operate the program as a cooperative model that promotes indie game culture and long-term industry growth.

Strengthening a Global Indie Hub

BIC Organizing Committee Chairman Joo Seong-pil explained that this year’s focus lies in reinforcing BIC’s role as a global communication hub. By leveraging the holiday period, the festival creates an environment where developers and gamers can interact more deeply. At the same time, sponsors and partners can contribute to building a sustainable indie ecosystem together.

Looking Ahead

Overall, BIC 2026 aims to expand its global influence while maintaining accessibility for both professionals and the public. With its hybrid structure, strategic scheduling, and continued industry support, the festival stands ready to build on its strongest year yet.

You can check out for more information by checking out their official website, or their official YouTube channel.