Australian games made for social impact, free and playable across two days, alongside a one-day Summit of talks and panels on games for climate, health and learning.
Presented as part of Melbourne International Games Week, Games for Change Australia 2026 is a two-day event at ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne, exploring how video games can address real-world problems. It pairs a ticketed one-day Summit of talks and panels with a free public Showcase of ten Australian games.
This is the sixth festival, and the first under the name Games for Change Australia, newly established as the Australian chapter of Games for Change. The 2026 programme runs on three themes: climate and community, health and wellbeing, and learning.
“Every year we like to remind everyone how impactful, important and meaningful games are for our species, helping us develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and our communities, providing the tools to tackle real world challenges, and leading the frontiers of how we think, connect and create. It is an enduring privilege to show off the great work of developers, researchers and industry professionals who are using digital games to improve the world we all share.” - Daniel Teitelbaum, Festival Director, Games for Change Australia
SUMMIT 2026
Wednesday 7 October
Cinema 2, ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne
Three 90-minute sessions, ticketed separately at $35 each including GST.
Each session pairs short talks with a hosted panel and audience questions.
A $25 all-day live stream is available.
SESSION 1 · GAMES FOR CLIMATE AND COMMUNITY
10:00 to 11:30
How can games help people understand the role of community in climate response, and move from understanding to action?
This session brings together presentations and a panel discussion exploring how games, simulation and play are being used to communicate climate risk, support adaptation and strengthen community. Speakers will share experiences from research, commercial studios and facilitation practice, before opening the conversation to how developers, researchers, communities and institutions can work together to make games a more useful part of the climate response.
SESSION 2 · GAMES FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING
12:00 to 13:30
How can games support mental health and wellbeing, and what does it take to design and deliver them well?
This session brings together presentations and a panel discussion exploring the evidence, the lived experience and the design practice behind games made for wellbeing. Speakers will share experiences from research, clinical practice, community settings and independent studios, before opening the conversation to how researchers, developers, health professionals and the people these games are made for can work together to make games a more credible and effective part of care.
SESSION 3 · GAMES FOR LEARNING
14:00 to 15:30
How can we make it easier for educators to adopt, develop and effectively use games for learning?
This session brings together presentations and a panel discussion exploring the opportunities, challenges and practical support needed to expand the use of games across education. Speakers will share experiences from research, development and practice, before opening the conversation to how institutions, educators, researchers and game creators can work together to make games a more accessible and effective part of learning.
SHOWCASE 2026
Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October
10:00 to 17:00
Free, no ticket required
ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne.
Ten Australian games, playable, with the developers on the floor.
Read moreContact information
Name: Daniel Teitelbaum, Festival Director, Games for Change Australia
Email: production@g4capac.org