Call for Hosts for 2027 and beyond
Every year, the Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) gathers scholars, designers, and practitioners from across the world to share research, ideas, and play. Since 2003, these conferences have been made possible by local organising committees who volunteer their time and energy to host the community.
We’re now looking for hosts for DiGRA 2027 and 2028, though proposals for 2029 and beyond are also welcome. While the official language of the conference is English, we encourage proposals from regions that haven’t yet hosted DiGRA, and from communities that have been historically under-represented in games research. We also acknowledge that games research takes many forms from various interdisciplinary and intersectional strands. Our conferences welcome them all.
While DiGRA has long been a home for academic research on games, in recent years it has also embraced technological perspectives, industry voices, independent creators, and other practice-based work. We want forthcoming conferences to reflect that mix and be spaces where scholars, creators, critics, and other practitioners can meet on equal footing to share knowledge and spark new collaborations.
How it works
DiGRA conferences are a joint effort:
The Local Organising Committee (the role you’ll be fulfilling) runs the conference on the ground. This means being responsible for elements like theme, venue, catering, events, keynote speakers, communicating with scholars before, during, and after the conference, and facilitating remote participation.
The DiGRA Executive Board supports and supervises the organisation process, and retains oversight of key decisions to ensure the quality and reputation of the conference. In practice, this means the Board works in partnership with the hosts throughout the process, stepping in only if needed.
The Program Committee, appointed by the DiGRA Executive Board with input from the Local Organizing Committee, oversees peer review independently of the local organisers.
Hosts should be ready to welcome 300-500 attendees and design an event that reflects DiGRA’s prosocial values and commitment to creating a welcoming and lively space for academic inquiry. In this regard, our new Code of Conduct highlights the values and practices we aim for our conferences and their attendees to promote.
Most importantly, hosts bring their own perspective to the conference: local history, culture, and context shape the tone and takeaways of each DiGRA gathering. Show us what makes your setting distinctive, and how it can offer something memorable to the community.
Want to apply?
We suggest that proposals address the following sections. You may adapt headings as needed, but covering each area will ensure thoroughness.
While not required, your application will be stronger if some members of the Local Organizing Committee have a history of involvement with DiGRA, such as through past or recent conference participation or membership.
1. Introduction & Overview
- Briefly explain why you wish to host DiGRA.
- What makes your location unique, and why is it a good fit for the conference?
- Outline the strength of your local game studies/development community (e.g. DiGRA chapters, research groups, regional networks).
2. Local Context and Community
- Describe the host city/town and its cultural, academic, or industry relevance.
Highlight visitor attractions and local character. - Identify ties to the local game industry, civic/cultural institutions, or other partners.
Include images of relevant landmarks, venues, or events to show why delegates may want to attend.
3. Hosting Venue(s)
This section should provide specifics on the institution(s) or organisation(s) hosting the event. Keep in mind the need for large spaces for communal events and keynotes. Please include:
- Location of institution(s) and their academic/industry background.
- Facilities descriptions: lecture theatres, seminar/meeting rooms, exhibition spaces, quiet/prayer rooms (i.e. the specific spaces where the event will take place).
- Room inventories: capacities, AV/tech setup, number of tracks possible in parallel, and visuals (maps, images, floorplans).
- Accessibility considerations across venues/rooms: wheelchair/lift access, hearing loops, hybrid/streaming facilities, etc.
4. Travel & Accommodation
- Distance from international/domestic airports and transport options (bus, train, taxi, etc.).
Local travel between the venue and accommodation. - Hotel and university housing options, including typical per-night rates.
Potential for delegate discounts.
5. Conference Programme
- Potential theme idea and rationale.
- List potential keynote and other guest speakers.
- A clear timeline of key dates: CfP release, review period, notifications, early bird/regular registration, camera-ready, and conference week.
- Creative/practice-based submission opportunities: how will you support showcasing or encourage the creation of practical work (before and potentially during the conference)?
- Special events or cultural programming (e.g. showcases, public events, city-specific activities).
- Social events (welcome reception, conference dinner, mixers, etc.).
6. Remote Participation
- DiGRA conferences are expected to provide a remote option. Please explain:
Platform(s) to be used and how sessions will be run. - Accessibility measures (captioning, recording policies, time-zone accommodations).
How remote attendees will be integrated into Q&A and networking. - Online security measures for participants and event integrity.
7. Supporting Prosocial Values
- Explain how your conference will address prosocial values like Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, participant safety, and sustainability. These typically include (but are not limited to):
Support for parents/caregivers (childcare, breastfeeding rooms, family-friendly participation). - Support for queer participants (gender-neutral bathrooms, pronoun visibility).
- Support for neurodiverse participants (quiet rooms, flexible presentation options).
- Support for participants with disabilities or chronic illness (mobility access, captioning, health measures for immunocompromised).
- Alignment with DiGRA’s Code of Conduct and its conflict resolution and safety protocols. Who can participants approach? How will complaints be handled? What other safeguarding measures will be in place?
- Sustainability measures: local catering/dining/entertainment choices, policy for delegate packs/“swag”/merch (avoiding waste, eco-friendly design), recycling/printing, and other environmental considerations.
8. Organisation & Staffing
- Members, roles, and short professional biographies highlighting research expertise and event experience of the Local Organising Committee.
- Administrative/professional support (e.g. dedicated staff, institutional event teams, technical support).
- Plan for coordination and regular communication with the DiGRA Executive Board.
9. Budget & Funding
Please include all proposed fee tiers/categories. Fees must incorporate DiGRA membership dues for the conference year (€40 scholar, €20 student). A suggested structure includes:
- Early-bird and late registration (regular)
- Student/unwaged (early/late)
- Remote (early/late)
- Additional tiers for Global South/low-income countries are encouraged.
Create a basic financial plan to show how fees (with number-per-tier estimates) will support venue, AV, catering, keynote travel, staff, bursaries, accessibility and equality support, etc.
A conference license agreement must be signed. Among other stipulations, it notes that any surplus is split, with 30% returned to DiGRA. As losses are borne by the host institution, so explain your contingency plan in this case.
- Describe institutional support and any contributions from participating organisation(s) (e.g., rooms, staff, AV).
- Highlight potential sponsorship/funding sources from industry, government, or cultural bodies, and how funds would be used (e.g. reducing fees, sponsoring scholars).
- How will bursaries/subsidies/Solidarity Fund applications be budgeted and managed (e.g. supporting unwaged participants, Global South participation)?
- Registration/payment system to be used.
Ready to submit your proposal?
The DiGRA Executive Board welcomes expressions of interest on an ongoing basis. Completed proposals — as well as general enquiries about hosting, the license agreement, or anything else you’d like clarified — should be sent by email to: digrainternational@gmail.com.
We look forward to hearing from you, and to working with future hosts to shape the next chapter of DiGRA.