Games Done Quick concluded its first European event after raising €18,000 for Gaming for Democracy during gamescom GDQ, a three-day speedrunning showcase held in Cologne, Germany. The event brought GDQ’s charity-focused gaming format to one of the world’s largest gatherings for the video game industry.
gamescom GDQ Brings Speedrunning to Cologne
Held from August 28 through August 30 at Koelnmesse, gamescom GDQ formed part of the broader gamescom 2026 program. Thousands of attendees watched the speedrunning sessions in person, while additional viewers followed the event online through Games Done Quick’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Proceeds benefited Gaming for Democracy, a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening democratic values and encouraging civic engagement within the gaming industry and its communities.
Programming began each day at 10 a.m. Central European Summer Time, or 4 a.m. Eastern Time, and continued until approximately 8 p.m. CEST, or 2 p.m. ET.
Unusual Speedrunning Challenges Highlight Three-Day Event
As with other Games Done Quick marathons, the program featured experienced players attempting to complete video games as quickly as possible while demonstrating specialized techniques, strategies and unconventional challenges.
Among the notable runs was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, completed while the player was blindfolded.
Another showcase featured Hades II, with two runners sharing a single controller. The schedule also included Grand Poo World 3, a well-known kaizo-style fan game designed around exceptionally demanding platforming challenges.
The mix of technical gameplay and unusual formats reflects the speedrunning community’s emphasis on mastering game mechanics while finding increasingly creative ways to complete titles.
Games Done Quick Receives Heart of Gaming Award
Games Done Quick also received the Heart of Gaming award during gamescom. The honor was selected by a special jury and presented onstage at the gamescom studio in partnership with IGN.
GDQ also appeared during gamescom Opening Night Live, where Ashley Farkas, the organization’s co-owner and business director, participated in an interview segment discussing the group’s charitable work and the broader impact of its community.
The recognition came as Games Done Quick marked another expansion of its international presence. Over its 15-year history, the organization says its speedrunning events have generated more than $62 million for charitable causes.
Previous charity partners have included the Prevent Cancer Foundation and Médecins Sans Frontières, known in the United States as Doctors Without Borders.
More Games Done Quick Events Planned for 2026 and 2027
The conclusion of gamescom GDQ does not mark the end of the organization’s 2026 schedule.
Flame Fatales, GDQ’s speedrunning event featuring women and femmes, is scheduled for September 13-19 and will raise funds for the Malala Fund. Games Done Quick is also planning appearances at PAX West and Halo Fest.
Awesome Games Done Quick Heads to Atlanta
The organization’s next major U.S. events are already scheduled for 2027.
Awesome Games Done Quick will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, from January 3-9. Summer Games Done Quick is scheduled to return to Minneapolis from June 20-26.
The events will continue GDQ’s long-running model of combining competitive speedrunning, online entertainment and charitable fundraising.
gamescom Continues Its International Expansion
gamescom 2026 ran from August 24-30 in Cologne, bringing together game developers, companies, industry professionals and fans both in person and through digital programming.
The week began with the gamescom dev developer conference on August 24, followed by gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25.
Beyond Germany, the gamescom brand has expanded internationally through gamescom latam in São Paulo and gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show in Bangkok.
For Games Done Quick, its first gamescom GDQ added another international event to a charitable fundraising operation that has grown significantly over the past 15 years. With €18,000 raised for Gaming for Democracy and several additional events already scheduled, the organization is set to continue combining speedrunning with fundraising across both U.S. and international gaming communities.
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