Trade fair preview: Spiel 2026 meets politics, education, inclusion and journalism

SPIEL Essen showcases the full diversity of games. Here’s the matching trade fair preview. Guaranteed free of hype, but with politics, education, journalism, inclusion, nature and health.

If you’d like to prepare for the trade fair in more detail, we recommend the official fair website as well as the previews on BoardGameGeek and Brettspielbox. A social media wall for #Spiel26 can be found on zuspieler.de. As part of the event series “Spiel Talks”, there are numerous panel discussions and lectures. In our preview, we only mention a few of them. The full programme can be found at spiel-essen.de/de/programm/spieltalks#.

Spiel meets politics

Lectures

What do we know about where and under what conditions board games are produced? How fair is the world of board games not just at the gaming table, but also in their development and production? These and other questions are addressed in the panel "Die Plattform für Faires Spiel(en) – Die Fair Toys Organisation e.V." as part of the Spiel Talks on Thursday, 2 October, from 16:30 to 17:00.

Games

The publisher Das politische Talent is also represented with a stand in Essen this year (Hall 4, 4B120) and will be presenting its eponymous game there. Brexit by Peer Sylvester cannot be bought at the fair, but you might be able to try it out. Where exactly? That will be posted on spielbar.com as soon as the information is confirmed. The author also writes about the game’s development there. Political Poker – Allies vs Rivals is a satirical deck of playing cards inspired by current world politics, international rivalries and personalities who dominate the headlines. It is available from Hecate.lv (Hall 1, 1E325).

In Stichspiel Tax the Rich, it’s all about social hierarchies, power and upheavals. The goal is to score tricks and points through clever bidding and playing – or to completely turn the balance of power in the game on its head with a revolution. Normally, cards of higher social ranks are worth more. If a player only has cards with a flag symbol left in their hand, they may call a revolution. From that moment on, the order is reversed: the lowest ranks beat the highest. The game was already available in English in 2025. Now the German version is being released by Pegasus Spiele.

A game by Kristian Amundsen Østby, Kjetil Svendsen and Alion // 3 to 6 players // ages 10+ // 25 minutes // Pegasus Spiele, Hall 3, Stand 3M120.

In the game Wendepunkt , we experience the time before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall from the perspective of an East German citizen. How much do we go along with the SED system to advance our career? And how much can or do we want to distance ourselves from it when the Wall falls? Teaching materials are available for use in the classroom.

A game by Martin Thiele-Schwez and Michael Geithner // 3 to 8 players // ages 12+ // 15 minutes // Ostia-Spiele, Playing History, Hall 4, Stand 4J500

Dawn of Democracy is a two-player board game set in a prehistoric world full of politics and competition. Over the course of the game, we must manage resources – stone, meat, fruit, water and muscle power – gain followers and control territories. The goal is to have the most supporters at the end to become chief.

A game by GoalBeat Montri // 2 players // ages 10+ // 20 minutes // Siam Board Games, Hall 5, Stand 5G400

The board game World Order simulates modern international relations, where we take control of one of the four dominant world powers of the 2010s: the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the European Union. We use our diplomatic power, economic strength and military power to expand our influence around the world. The German edition is being released by Giant Roc (B-Rex). Expansions in English are available from the original publisher, Hegemonic Project Games (Hall 3, Stand 3Q500).

A game by Varnavas Timotheou, Vangelis Bagiartakis and Dimitris Siakampenis // 2 to 4 players // ages 14+ // 120 minutes // B-Rex, Hall 2, Stand 2E440

Spiel meets journalism and media

Exhibitors

Various media outlets will be presenting themselves at the fair, including Spielbox and Spiel Doch (Hall 2, Stand 2A210). The Spielbox is also offering a free fair special edition this year, which is being distributed at the entrances. Alternatively, you can download it for free at spielbox.de.

The Fairplay (Hall 3, Stand 3H111) is organising the Scout action as usual. Also present are Brettspiel News (Hall 2, Stand 2A515) and Correctiv (Hall 4, Stand 4J600).

For the first time in years, there is no stand for Spielerei. From the English-speaking world, The Dice Tower (Hall 3, Stand 3R315) and BoardGameGeek (Hall 4, Stand 4G215) are on site.

Lectures and meetups

At the Meet & Play , you can meet media professionals on Saturday, 24 October, from 14:00 to 18:00 in the Essen Hall. There are more and more of them. Over 300 blogs, YouTube channels and podcasts are listed on zuspieler.de.

The association Spiel des Jahres has long been presenting the podcast "Das spielerische Quartett". In it, four people each present a current game and discuss it. At SPIEL Essen, there will be a live recording as part of the Spiel Talks on Saturday, 24 October, from 11:10 to 11:50. It will take place on the stage in Hall 4. The jury members Manuel Fritsch, Maren Hoffmann, Tobias Franke and Martina Fuchs will be there.

In the English-language talk “Media Literacy and Editorial Policy in the Board Gaming World”,

Games

The game Projekt G is based on real investigative journalism. Players find out how journalists work. An anonymous letter reaches the newsroom. It contains an invitation to a meeting with a threatening background. Journalist Jara Veldkamp secures the first clues, but then she has to drop out. Now the investigation is in our hands.

A game by Fee Wedepohl and Sebastian Haupt // 2 to 4 players // 60 minutes // Correctiv, Hall 4, Stand 4J600

Games meet inclusion and LGBTIQ

The SPIEL Essen grounds are accessible for people with mobility impairments. You can find more information on the accessibility page of the fair at spiel-essen.de/de/besuchen/barrierefreiheit. At the upper right end of Hall 5, at the transition to Hall 6, there is a unisex toilet area. You can also display this on the hall map via the SPIEL Essen app.

Exhibitors

Gamer Girl Jewelry (Hall 5, Stand 5F300) is a company that creates artworks from resin and is committed to the LGBTQ+ community. Their range includes handmade dice, jewellery, home accessories and gaming accessories. At Skellig Games (Hall 3, Stand 3C300), you’ll find explainers who will present games to you in German Sign Language (DGS).

Games

Kinky Intentions - Wer bist du, wenn du spielen darfst? by Dr. Madita Hoy, Florian Wagner and Dr. Martin Gostentschnig is a card game in which we discover which dom-sub dynamic we like best. The game is available from Erotivity (Hall 4, Stand 4C115).

Molly House is a historical game that takes us right into the queer communities of London at the beginning of the 18th century – a world full of courage, masquerade and deadly dangers. The self-appointed moral guardians of the Society for the Reformation of Manners are always hot on our heels. The game was already released last year; now the German version is available from Spielworxx.

A game by Jo Kelly, Cole Wehrle // 1 to 5 players // age 14+ // 90 minutes // Spielworxx, Hall 3, Stand 3B300

Games meet health

Talks

Games are considered a leisure activity. A break from the seriousness of life. But what if the exact opposite is true, if the play space is the place where people connect most deeply with themselves? In his talk, Daniel Stofft will show on Friday, 23 October, from 12:40 to 13:10 how analogue games can be used as therapeutic and reflective tools.

Games

At LuzaTables (Hall 1, Stand 1F300), there is a Gefühlswürfel. The memory game Reiseträume features sights from Europe and invites you to rediscover past holiday experiences and dream of new travel destinations. According to the publisher (Hall 2, Stand 2C631), the large picture cards are suitable for people with dementia. The motifs are intended to evoke memories and encourage storytelling, puzzling and shared exchange.

Look Inside is a gaming experience with stories and puzzles that puts empathy and understanding of mental health at the centre. According to publisher mend-o (Hall 2, Stand 2C120), the characters and their stories were developed with a psychotherapist, and the game idea was scientifically examined in a pilot study at Heidelberg University. There will be a demo at the fair. A crowdfunding campaign is planned for 2027.

The Feeling Doctor Spielzeugset was developed to help children recognise and understand their emotions while also promoting emotional balance. Equipped with more than thirty interactive tools, the set offers a playful way for children to explore their feelings.

A game by Anna Llenas // 1 player // age 3+ // 30 minutes // Jumbo Spiele, Hall 8, Stand 8C110

Games meet nature

Games

In Mission Amazonia, a strategic deck-building board game, we join a Brazilian team of rainforest protectors. From our headquarters, we set out on missions north and south of the Amazon to curb the illegal exploitation of the rainforest. According to the publisher, we explore the Amazon rainforest on realistic maps covering the states of Rondônia, Pará and Amazonas, in ten chapters where we experience deforestation in five-year steps from the end of the 1980s onwards.

A game by Markus Lehmann // 1 to 4 players // age 10+ // 45 minutes // Humming Games, Hall 8, Stand 8D315

How much fish do we catch when the catch is ours, but the fish stock belongs to everyone? In FangFrage , up to six crews take on the roles of competing fishing companies. In each fishing season, each crew decides how many fish they want to catch and submits their catch log card face down. Only afterwards does it become clear what the sum of all individual decisions does to the shared fish stock.

A game by Daniel Hitzing, Erik Robert // 6 to 36 players // age 13+ // 120 minutes // Didact Games, Hall 5, Stand 5G115

Azimut XL is a large-scale outdoor orienteering game for families, schools, youth groups and sports clubs. Up to four teams compete against each other. They use direction cards, movement tasks and strategic decisions to reach the right targets. The game combines physical activity, teamwork and navigation skills into an entertaining and educational experience.

A game by Vincent Merveille // 2 to 48 players // age 4+ // 45 minutes // Azimut Games, Hall 4, Stand 4D425

Together, in Freiluftwelten , we build an island, piece by piece, from leaves, branches, stones and much more that we collect in nature. Each person has secret missions and transforms the collected materials into boats, treasures or even volcanoes.

A game by Tina Schuster, Jens-Peter Schliemann, Karolina Schnelle, Lisa Besse // 2 to 6 players // age 7+ // 90 minutes // Denkriesen, Hall 8, Stand 8B300

Our task in Mutter Natur is to create a living network that encompasses nature from the smallest grasses to the large predator. Our communication is limited. Nevertheless, we must understand what others need so that everyone can play the right cards at the right time.

A game by Julien Prothière // 3 to 6 players // age 8+ // 15 minutes // Hall 6, Stand 6B300

The Book of Birds is a compendium of forty-nine bird species – from capercaillie to nightjar – that are currently threatened in Europe or whose populations are steadily declining. Now there is the game to go with it, piel der Vögel. Chirping, rustling, a peek into the nest – on the table, a habitat for birds grows. Each bird species carries one of seven wonders such as song, feathers or migration.

A game by Michael Rieneck, Jackie Morris, Robert Macfarlane // 2 to 4 players // ages 10+ // 40 minutes // Kosmos, Hall 7, Stand 7E311

Games meet education and science

General information and events

At the Educators Day experts, scientists and practitioners provide insights into the diversity of games and education. It takes place on Friday, 23 October, from 11:00 to 18:30 in Hall 4 on the Spiel-Talks stage.

As part of the specialist conference "Präludo – Board Games for Competence Acquisition", there will be a professional exchange on research, competence measurement and educational practice for science, higher education teaching and educational practice. It is aimed at scientists as well as people, particularly from school practice, and interested parties, and takes place on Wednesday, 21 October from 13:30 to 20:00 in Essen.

Exhibitors

In 2023, the educational pen-and-paper role-playing game Abenteuer im Märchenwald was already released. It was developed for use in schools and during therapies. The publisher Edutale is presenting it and, as in previous years, shares Stand 1E520 in Hall 1 with the University of Bonn. The latter will present its research, game ideas and developments.

Since 1992, Art of Games has been developing and producing educational games for associations, NGOs, municipalities and other institutions. The stand 4B400 is located in Hall 4.

The Institute of Board Game for Learning is represented at the Thailand stand 5G400 in Hall 5.

Boardgame Historian (Hall 1, Stand 1F800) is an interdisciplinary research network and blog project founded at the end of 2020. It focuses on the academic study of analogue games, particularly board games, and their representations of history and society. In addition to publishing works and organising events, a special focus is on the interface between museums and board games.

Games

In a parallel world, the chemical elements in Elemonsters Explore have come to life as monsters. They fight each other or form alliances. According to the publisher, all values on the cards are based on scientific facts. The monsters’ abilities reflect the real properties of the elements.

A game by Andreas Dihm, Richard Schweiger // 2 to 20 players // ages 8+ // 20 minutes // Nut & Shell Games, Hall 2, Stand 2E621

Proteins are constantly being produced in every cell – but not every protein takes the same path, and not every one is needed in the same place. In Mission Zelle, we control three different production routes through the cell and try to get our proteins from the DNA to their respective destinations.

A game by Erik Robert, Daniel Hitzing // 2 to 4 players // ages 14+ // 30 minutes // Didact Games, Hall 5, Stand 5G115

Do you know any other interesting exhibitors? Do you know more games with unusual themes? We look forward to your tips in the comments.