With over 11,000 visitors, the Salzburg Exhibition Centre once again became the meeting place for the Austrian gaming, cosplay, and pop culture community on May 23rd and 24th. For the first time, LEVEL UP took place concurrently with the Salzburg Fair and captivated visitors across more than 15,000 square meters with eSports, indie games, community activities, workshops, and interactive experiences.
This year, special emphasis was again placed on the diversity of the program: From gaming and eSports to cosplay and anime, as well as tabletop games, trading cards, creative areas and community offerings, LEVEL UP provided a weekend full of encounters, exchanges and participatory experiences.
“We are proud to bring together so many different communities in one place every year, creating a unique experience for visitors of all ages,” says Tommi Huber, project manager of LEVEL UP.
Whether on racing simulators, PCs, consoles, or retro gaming stations, visitors could actively participate and experience a wide variety of game worlds. The offerings were complemented by eSports teams, clubs, and numerous partner booths. A particular highlight was once again the Indie Games Area presented by FH Salzburg, where over 40 indie games from developers in German-speaking countries were showcased. Visitors could try out upcoming titles, chat with the developers, and gain exclusive insights into new projects.
Another major crowd-puller was the eSports Stage. Visitors could expect a diverse program on both days of the event, featuring tournaments, show matches, live entertainment, and exciting stage formats showcasing the local gaming and eSports scene.
The Raiffeisen Club Community Stage focused on participation: From interactive formats like the Amazing Nerdquiz: Gaming Edition to various multiplayer tournaments and a Beat The Pro with YouTuber Luigikid, the stage became a hotspot for everyone who wanted to do more than just watch, but become part of the action themselves.
The cosplay stage was also significantly expanded following its successful premiere last year. In 2026, it offered even more programming, shows, and community highlights. In addition to cosplay performances, further formats such as speed drawing and anime music video contests brought the creativity of the scene even more into focus.
The Artist & Vendor Area, featuring over 80 artists and vendors from the fields of anime, manga, gaming, illustration, and pop culture, was also very popular. New this year were dedicated cosplay booths, offering insights into the creative work of cosplayers.
LEVEL UP 2026 was once again supported by strong partners from business and media, who actively helped shape the festival and contributed to the further development of the event.
Salzburg AG provided the necessary internet speed throughout the entire gaming area with its 10-gigabit fiber optic connection. This guaranteed minimal response times in the game and real-time gaming fun for all visitors.
The Austrian Armed Forces were also present as exhibitors, focusing on cybersecurity. The interactive escape room, which introduced visitors to the topic of cybersecurity in a playful way, was particularly popular.
“With our SuperStreamer JOYN, we are passionate about providing diverse entertainment in Austria. This unites us with the LEVEL UP gaming festival. Whether streaming favorite series and movies or gaming, we create a shared space for special experiences. That's why we are delighted to be a partner again this year,” concluded Fabian Knauseder-Wöhrer, Managing Director of JOYN Austria.
With its successful 2026 edition, LEVEL UP once again underscores its importance as one of Austria's most significant gaming and pop culture events. At the same time, the event proved to be a central meeting point for the community in German-speaking countries and an experience for families, fans, and visitors of all ages.
Click here for the highlight pictures: LEVEL UP 2026 Highlight Pictures
