Calling queer game makers: Entries open for Queer Games Festival

Calling all queer game developers, artists and pixel-pushing dreamers! Entries are officially open for the 2026 Queer Games Festival (QGF), with developers from around the world invited to submit their games.

The Queer Games Festival was created to reflect the lives of LGBTQIA+ players through games. Bringing queer game culture from around the world to Melbourne, it’s a chance for queer Australian and international developers to connect.

The Queer Games festival began more than a decade ago. Founder Luke Miller created the gay-themed science-fiction adventure My Boyfriend the Space Tyrant.

Seeing a gap in LGBTQ+ representation in gaming, he created the annual Queer Games Festival.

“It was an opportunity to create space for queer artists to talk about their art,” he told QNews. “If we don’t do it ourselves, then the work doesn’t get seen, so creating this space was important.”

“When I started, I was in the dark about what a gay hero in a game looked like. That has changed a lot, which is great to see.”

He decided to create a space for queer game makers. The result is a lo-fi festival run by a small team of volunteers who love queer games.

Queer games can be autobiographical, experimental, political, contemporary, strange, beautiful or wonderfully chaotic. Sometimes they are all of those things at once.

Submissions are open now until August 31, and are completely free, so there is still time to get your queer creation into the mix.

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2026 is bringing even more queer gaming goodness

For the first time, QGF will co-host a one-night-only physical event with Sabby in October. Players will be able to get hands-on with some of this year’s selected games. The event will take place in Carlton; the exact date and time are still being finalised.

The festival is also bringing back its Emerging Developer Award. Sponsored by Minoh Workshop, it comes with a US$500 prize for an early-career developer of any age.

There is also a new Excellence in Narrative Award, complete with a US$250 prize.

Bring on the queer games! Queer Games Festival will also run its second “state of the scene” survey, aimed at checking in with queer game makers and exploring how the community is feeling.

For updates on the festival, join QGF’s mailing list or keep an eye on their Instagram. The time has come, and we all want to play. Submit your game to the Queer Games Festival.