The world’s most famous speedrunning marathon is packing its bags, grabbing its glitch-hunting tools, and heading across the Atlantic.

Games Done Quick (GDQ), the grassroots powerhouse that has raised over $60 million for global charities, has officially unveiled its full event schedule for gamescom GDQ. This landmark announcement marks a massive double-first for the organisation: its very first official outing in Europe, and its debut partnership with gamescom, the absolute titan of the global gaming event circuit.

If you thought European summer couldn’t get any hotter, get ready for frame-perfect inputs and breakneck game-breaking strategies.

The Details: When, Where, and How to Watch

Unlike the marathon’s usual 24-hour non-stop formats, gamescom GDQ is a tightly-packed, action-filled three-day showcase.

• Dates: August 28 – 30, 2026
• Location: Live at gamescom in Cologne, Germany
• Daily Schedule: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM CEST (4:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET)
• Where to Watch: Live on the show floor for Gamescom attendees, or streamed globally on GDQ’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.

Schedule Highlights: Blindfolds, Chaos, and Co-op

The freshly dropped schedule promises a curated blend of nostalgic classics and modern hits pushed to their breaking points. Here are a few can’t-miss runs that are already generating massive hype:

• Hades II (Fresh File, 2 Players, 1 Controller): Talk about a relationship test. Two runners will have to share a single controller with zero permanent unlocks enabled to conquer the Underworld.
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Any% Blindfolded): Renowned blindfolded master Bubzia returns. He’ll be tearing through Hyrule and defeating Ganon entirely by audio cues, muscle memory, and pure routing genius.
• Hollow Knight: Silksong (Any% Cloakless): Fans will finally get to see Team Cherry’s highly anticipated sequel completely disassembled on a massive stage by elite runners.
• Pokémon Red/Blue (Reverse Badge Order): A high-level exhibition of glitch execution where the runner shatters the game’s sequence, tackling Gym Leaders backwards.

Speedrunning for a Better World

GDQ events have historically funded vital causes like Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. For this historic European debut, gamescom GDQ is channelling its fundraising power toward Gaming for Democracy.

This unique initiative—developed by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur—brings together civil society, educators, and the gaming industry to promote civic engagement and democratic values through modern gaming culture.

“We are very excited to get supported by gamescom GDQ and gamers from all around the world,” said Nandita Wegehaupt, Managing Director of Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur. “Using games to strengthen democratic values and engagement is more important than ever, and this opportunity will help us reach and empower a new generation of active, informed citizens.”

A Match Made in Gaming Heaven

For GDQ, this is more than just another event; it’s a global expansion. By establishing a physical presence at the world’s largest gaming convention, GDQ opens its doors to an immense community of European speedrunners and fans who may have never had the opportunity to travel to US-based events.

Whether you’re heading to Germany to watch the frame-perfect inputs live, or getting ready to spam Twitch chat from the comfort of your couch, gamescom GDQ is shaping up to be an historic celebration of gaming at its absolute fastest.

Check out the full, finalised run order over at the official Games Done Quick Schedule Page.

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