Sunset Esports Festival
Our Story
WELCOME TO SUNSET ESPORTS FESTIVAL - EXPERIENCE ESPORTS LIKE NEVER BEFORE
Sunset Esports Festival is a unique event concept that connects decision-makers, publishers, teams, creators, brands, platforms, and fans – bridging competitive gaming with the future of entertainment, performance, and digital culture.
Sunset Esports Festival established itself as one of the region’s leading platforms for knowledge exchange, networking, and cross-industry collaboration.
The 2025 edition featured a truly global lineup with internationally recognized voices — from His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, President of the Saudi Esports Federation, and Mikael Westerling, co-founder and CSO of esports data platform GRID, CEO of BLAST Robbie Douek, professional esports player Luka Perković “Perkz”, to CBS Sports leaders Pete Radovich and Kate Scott – bringing world-class perspectives from media, competitive gaming, and innovation.
The esports program is curated and produced in partnership with Good Game Global, with a dedicated stage, tailored audience, and commercial ecosystem designed specifically for gaming and esports brands.
The festival’s reach was reflected in its audience, with a majority of attendees and industry professionals traveling from across Europe, the Middle East, and North America, reinforcing Sunset’s role as a global meeting point for sport, media, technology and competitive gaming communities.
PANELS, KEYNOTES, INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS
Day one of the Sunset Esports Festival 2026 will focus on the business, investment, and long-term evolution of the global gaming and esports industry through a full program of high-level panels, keynotes, and industry discussions.
Throughout the day, leading executives, investors, federation representatives, and esports operators from across Europe and the Middle East will explore how gaming is becoming a major force in business, media, technology, and international development.
Topics will include the future of investment in gaming, the rise of sustainable esports ecosystems, leadership and diversity within the industry, the business operations behind elite esports organizations, and the growing role of data in making esports a scalable and investable market.
The program will also examine whether international federations can help unify the increasingly fragmented global esports landscape, bringing together some of the most influential voices shaping the future of competitive gaming.
The Sharks of Sunset brings together some of the region’s most promising sports, esports and tech startups for a live pitching session in front of VC funds, private investors and industry leaders.
Selected teams will present their ideas, products and business models to both a live audience and an expert jury searching for the industry’s next breakout success story.
Each startup will have 5 minutes to pitch, followed by a 10-minute Q&A focused on the product, strategy, innovation and business potential. Beyond the opportunity to showcase their projects and receive direct investor feedback, participants will gain valuable networking opportunities with key figures from the startup, gaming and investment ecosystem.
The Sharks of Sunset is designed to connect ambitious founders with the people, knowledge and capital needed to help shape the future of sports, esports and technology.
Date & Time: Saturday, June 6th – 11 am – 1.30 pm (20-minute coffee break included)
Pitching time per startup: 5 min
Q&A: 10 min
THE SHARKS OF SUNSET - PITCH YOUR STARTUP!
SPORT TECH IMPOWERED - VIBE CODING ACADEMY
Sport Tech Empowered is an interactive workshop focused on the growing role of AI in sports, esports and digital business. Through a practical introduction to “vibe coding”, participants will explore how AI tools can be used to build products, automate processes, grow communities and create new digital experiences, even without a traditional developer background.
Designed for professionals, creators, founders and innovators, the workshop combines learning, experimentation and real-world applications, giving attendees hands-on insight into how emerging technologies can become valuable business assets in the evolving sport tech landscape.
From ideation and workflow automation to fan engagement and product development, Sport Tech Empowered is built to help participants better understand and apply AI-driven solutions across modern sports and gaming industries.
The workshop is open to all visitors, no sign up is needed.
Date & Time: Saturday, June 6th – 2.30 pm – 5 pm (20-minute coffee break included)
Curated Community for Connection & Collaboration
An exclusive, curated ecosystem uniting influential leaders across esports,
sports, media, technology, and brand innovation – designed to ignite strategic
connections, visionary partnerships, and cross-industry collaboration at the highest level – all set against the inspiring backdrop of the Adriatic coastline.
Premium Social & Lifestyle Experiences
From sunset boat gatherings to boutique VIP receptions, the festival blends business with lifestyle. Attendees connect in memorable settings that inspire deeper relationships and elevate the overall festival experience on and beyond the conference floor.
Insight-driven content & Cutting-edge conversations
Panels and talks led by top experts uncover the latest trends transforming sports entertainment – from digital platforms and fan engagement to storytelling, esports, and media innovation.