The gaming and esports gathering known as Glitched Festival has revealed its plans to reconvene in 2026, scheduled to unfold at Elmia in Jönköping, Sweden, spanning from June 12th to 15th, 2026.
Glitched is an interactive gaming and esports experience, realized through collaboration with Elmia and esteemed partners like Elgiganten and TCL. This four-day event boasts an extensive LAN area, diverse competitions, engaging esports tournaments, expansive expo zones, and a wealth of other attractions.
This return follows an auspicious initial run earlier this year, from June 13th to 16th, which drew a substantial crowd of over 15,000 individuals to the LAN-based festivities.
Ticket sales are slated to commence on September 26th, 2025, coinciding with the unveiling of the primary venue hall and the availability of seating arrangements. Glitched has also indicated that additional seating options will be progressively disclosed throughout the autumn months.
In an official statement, Glitched made public the findings of a survey conducted among attendees of the inaugural 2025 event. The survey yielded a Net Promoter Score of 69, with some participants describing the experience as ‘world-class.’
Christoffer Melin, a Co-Founder of Glitched, remarked: “Glitched has successfully achieved its ambition of becoming Sweden’s premier gaming festival – and we are only just beginning. The positive response from both attendees and collaborating partners has been considerable, and all evaluations consistently indicate a unified sentiment: the community wholeheartedly embraces the experience we are collectively creating.”
Glitched has revealed strategies to further amplify the festival area at Elmia for the 2026 iteration, introducing fresh content and welcoming new partners. Moreover, the popular LAN Districts will be a returning feature for the forthcoming festival, offering themed zones within the LAN area specifically tailored to cater to particular interests, gaming styles, and community affiliations.
The festival was initially conceived after key figures from DreamHack transitioned from their roles to establish Glitched. The leadership is provided by DreamHack founder Martin Öjes, former Head of Operations Christoffer Melin, and former DreamHack Chief Strategy Officer Tomas Lyckedal, collectively possessing extensive experience spanning several decades.
The Ascendancy of Sweden as a Prominent Esports Center
Sweden has solidified its position as a prominent hub for esports, with the Glitched Festival emerging as the latest LAN event to showcase competitive gaming within the nation.
Throughout 2025, numerous popular competitive gaming titles, including GeoGuesser, have hosted major tournaments within the European nation. Furthermore, tournament organizer ESL FACEIT Group has announced intentions to stage Season 22 of the ESL Pro League in Stockholm, Sweden.
DreamHack, the former company of the Glitched Festival founders, is also scheduled to host a LAN event from November 28th–30th, 2025, in Stockholm. The event will feature the DreamHack Knockout, a direct qualifier for the ESL Pro League, alongside the debut major tournament for THE FINALS, and the Overwatch Champions Series World Finals.
The post Glitched Festival is scheduled to make a comeback in 2026 appeared first on Esports Insider.
