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The Games Forum Roma 2026

The Games Forum Roma
2026

REGISTER NOW

12–13 November 2026, Villa Mondragone · Rome, Italy

THE GAMES FORUM ROMA

The Games Forum Roma is a new in-person international working forum exploring the cultural, educational, scientific and societal future of games and interactive media.

Two focused days. A curated boutique event, a deliberately intimate international gathering. A place to exchange knowledge, build meaningful relationships and turn conversation into practical collaboration.

About

MORE THAN A CONFERENCE, A WORKING FORUM

Games increasingly shape culture and society, yet the people influencing their future often work in separate sectors and separate rooms.

The Games Forum Roma creates a shared space for leaders and emerging voices from the games industry, academia, education, culture, technology, public institutions and international organisations to meet, exchange knowledge and develop practical opportunities for collaboration.

This is not a large-scale expo or a conference built around footfall. The founding edition is deliberately curated for depth: meaningful conversations, qualified international relationships and outcomes that can continue after the event has ended.

The Forum is organised by Women in Games and Structura, and directed by Dr Marie-Claire Isaaman and Marco Accordi Rickards.

WHAT WE WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND

Every edition of the Forum should produce something useful beyond the two days in Rome:

Rome Forum Brief
 A concise public record of insights, recommendations and collaboration opportunities emerging from the Forum.

Circulus
 A platform for year-round working groups and collaborations connecting industry, research, culture and institutions.

WHY ROME

Rome is a city where culture, institutions, research and international visibility meet.

Villa Mondragone, part of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, provides a setting historically associated with knowledge exchange. The venue connects that heritage with contemporary research, creativity and the next generation.

VISION BEYOND THE FORUM

The Games Forum Roma is meant to build lasting connections between the communities shaping the future of interactive culture.

As part of this vision, the organisers are launching Circulus, a permanent collaboration network intended to carry selected Forum conversations into year-round partnerships, working groups, research initiatives, knowledge exchange and cross-sector projects.

Circulus will be the bridge between each TGFR edition.

The Programme

THE PROGRAMME
View Full Programme
Morning
08:30 – 09:30

Bodies Before Badges

Wellness Session — Valentina Marchetti, Astera

09:40 – 10:00

Registration and badge collection

10:00 – 10:10

Academic Greetings

Prof. Antonella Canini
Prof. Barbara Martini

10:10 – 10:30

Opening Keynote

Dr Marie-Claire Isaaman, TGFR Co-Director, CEO Women in Games

10:40 – 11:30
Panel 1 / Commerce

Building Games Ecosystems: From Talent & Opportunity to Rights & Protection

Michele K. Robichaux, Entertainment Attorney, Odin Law and Media
Serena Tripepi, Director, Technical Director and Supervisor of Gaming Productions, Maga Animation Studio
Carmen Martino, People Operations Manager, PlayStack
Moderated by Dr. Chris Lowthorpe

11:30 – 12:00

Coffee and networking

12:00 – 12:50
Panel 2 / Culture

Art, Memory and Play: Creating and Preserving Games Heritage

Prof. Dalma Frascarelli, Director, Academy of Fine Arts of Rome
Beatrice Gentili, Lead Clean Up Artist and Supervisor, Little Sewing Machine
Carlo Tuzza, Game Composer and Sound Designer
Moderated by Prof. Marco Accordi Rickards

13:00 – 14:30

Lunch and networking

Afternoon & Evening
14:30 – 16:00
Workshop

Embracing Ambiguity: Designing for Diversity

Dr Menno Deen, Chair of Games [4Diversity] and organiser of Courage. Impact Game Designer, HAN University of Applied Sciences

A hands-on workshop using playful exercises to explore assumptions, exchange perspectives and discover how ambiguity can encourage dialogue, collaboration and more inclusive game design.

16:00 – 16:30

Coffee and networking

16:30 – 17:20
Panel 3 / Community

From Education to Industry: Skills, Access and Shared Opportunities

Prof. Antonella Canini, Vice-Rector, University of Rome Tor Vergata; Head of “Città della Conoscenza” project
Prof. Barbara Martini, Rector’s Delegate for Equal Opportunities and Inclusion; President of the CUG, University of Rome Tor Vergata
AEVI — speaker details tbc’d
Moderated by Hannah Wright

17:35 – 18:25
Panel 4 / Culture

Three Continents, Three Perspectives: Games, Gamification and AI for Learning

Aditya Soni, Founder and Creative Technologist, Owster Labs
Prof. Carlo Maria Medaglia, Vice-Rector, IUL Online University
Christian Mokuba, CEO, Bonobo Studio, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Moderated by Francesco Giovanetti

18:25 – 18:30

Close of day one

20:00

Speakers’ Dinner

In parallel · 11:30 – 13:30 — The Rome Roundtable · Working Session 1. By invitation.
Morning
08:30 – 09:30

Bodies Before Badges

Wellness Session — Valentina Marchetti, Astera

09:40 – 10:10

Badge collection and welcome

10:10 – 10:30

Opening Keynote

Prof. Marco Accordi Rickards, TGFR Co-Director, Director Structura
Video from Peri Fractic, President & CEO, Commodore International Corporation
Video from Dr Fabian Mehring, Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs

10:30 – 11:30
Panel 5 / Commerce

Taking European Games Global: Communities, Commerce and Sustainable Growth

Inês Ramalho, Country Manager for Southern Europe, Xsolla
Jenny McBean, Insights Director, Head of Gaming, Bryter
Thierry Baujard, Co-Founder, SpielFabrique
Michael Raith, Project Manager, Games Bavaria
Moderated by Dr Chris Lowthorpe

11:30 – 12:00

Coffee and networking

12:00 – 12:50
Panel 6 / Community

Speaking to Players: Localisation, AI and Cultural Access

Gaia Celeste, Community Manager, Doppio Nodo / Double Bind; Marketing Manager, Women in Localization Italy
Cristina Anselmi, Independent Video Game Localisation and AI Consultant; Events Manager North, Women in Localization Italy
Marta Lucrezia Molina, Adopt an Indie - GameLoc Academy / NyanLoc
Moderated by Hannah Wright

13:00 – 14:30

Lunch and networking

Afternoon
14:30 – 15:20
Panel 7 / Culture

What Do We Play? Games, Society and Culture

Francesca Noto, Game Writer, games matter
Pino Ieno, Assistant Animation Director, Little Sewing Machine
Speakers Tbc’d
Dovetail Games
Moderated by Francesco Giovanetti

15:30 – 16:30
Panel 8 / Commerce

Games for Positive Change: Industry, Sustainability and Impact

Anastasia Gayvoronskaya, Business Support Assistant, Partnerships and Innovation, Technical - United Nations World Food Programme
Volha Marozava, President, Donne for Peace
Fabio Pegorin, Innovation Manager, EIT Culture & Creativity
Video from Jennifer Estaris, Estaris Works
Moderated by Valentina Marchetti

16:30 – 17:10
Panel 9 / Community

The Power of Community

A contextual introduction followed by three specially commissioned TGFR video contributions exploring community, connection and belonging in games.

Gemma Johnson Brown, Co-Director and Ambassador Director, Women in Games
Athena-Maria Enderstein, Global Head of DEIB, Keywords Studios
Amir Satvat, General Partner, 1Up Ventures; Founder, ASGC
Don Daglow, President & CEO, Sausalito Games
Presented by Prof. Marco Accordi Rickards

In parallel · 11:30 – 13:30 — The Rome Roundtable · Working Session 2. By invitation.
Working Session 1 · Thursday 12 November
11:30 – 13:30
Working Session 1

Women in Innovation & STEM

Strengthening women’s participation and leadership across research, technology, startups and creative industries.

11:30 – 13:30
Working Session 1

Economic Participation & Leadership

Supporting women’s entrepreneurship, access to finance, career progression and decision-making.

Working Session 2 · Friday 13 November
11:30 – 13:30
Working Session 2

AI, Online Safety & Gender-Based Harm

Addressing the impact of AI, online abuse and emerging digital harms on women and girls.

11:30 – 13:30
Working Session 2

Gender Equality & EU Funding

Embedding gender equality in European investment, research and innovation programmes.

The Rome Roundtable — By invitation. Held in parallel with the Forum programme.

Special Activities

Bodies Before Badges

Alongside the Forum programme, participants will have the opportunity to take part in Bodies Before Badges, a series of optional wellbeing and embodiment sessions designed to create space for movement, reflection and connection before and during the Forum.

The three sessions are:

1

ARRIVE: A Moment to Land

A gentle opening session combining simple movement, reflection and informal connection, designed to help participants arrive, settle in and set an intention for the Forum.

Learn more & register
2

WAKE THE BODY

A morning session using breath-led movement inspired by Qigong and yoga, with grounding, mobility and attention practices to help participants start the day focused and present.

Learn more & register
3

CARRY IT FORWARD

A playful movement and reflection session designed to help participants process ideas and experiences from the Forum and carry something meaningful into the conversations ahead.

Learn more & register

All sessions are optional and open to participants regardless of previous experience.

The 2026 Focus

The founding edition examines the cultural and societal future of games through four interconnected areas.

G

Culture

How games are becoming an increasingly important part of contemporary culture, creative expression and cultural heritage — and how institutions, researchers, creators and audiences can better understand, preserve and develop their cultural value.

H

Commerce

How the games ecosystem is evolving across business models, markets, technology and investment — and how sustainable growth can be connected to innovation, creativity, responsibility and long-term value.

I

Community

How games create communities, identities and shared experiences — and how the sector can build more inclusive, healthy and meaningful spaces for players, professionals and the next generation.

J

Shared Action

What can industry, research, education, culture and institutions build together next? From individual conversations to shared priorities, the Forum explores where collaboration across sectors can create practical opportunities, new projects and lasting impact.

THE FORMAT

Two days designed to move from conversation to action.

  1. 1

    Plenary conversations

    Create a common language and surface the questions that matter.
  2. 2

    Working sessions & curated introductions

    Turn shared questions into priorities, relationships and practical collaboration opportunities.
  3. 3

    Follow-up & Circulus

    Carry the strongest ideas into the Rome Forum Brief, future partnerships and year-round activity.

Attendance & Registration

The Games Forum Roma is an in-person event at Villa Mondragone. There will be no live online attendance option.

Attendance is free of charge. Registration is recommended. The intimate scale is a deliberate part of the format, helping every participant contribute meaningfully.

The event will be recorded. Selected recordings and post-event materials are planned for release after the Forum, including for registered participants who are ultimately unable to attend in person.

Where to Stay

Participants are free to choose the accommodation that best suits their individual needs. Below you will find the hotel closest to the venue, together with a selection of alternative accommodation options in nearby Frascati.

Closest to the Venue
LH Hotel Villa Vecchia LH Hotel Villa Vecchia is a four-star hotel offering a special rate for participants in The Games Forum Roma. Its particular advantage is its direct pedestrian connection to Villa Mondragone. A woodland path links the hotel to the event venue in approximately five minutes, making it the most convenient option for participants who wish to reach the Forum on foot. To request the special rate, please email groupres@laminhotels.com, copying villavecchia@laminhotels.com, and mention "The Games Forum Roma Villa Mondragone" in your message. Address: Via Frascati 49, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy Telephone: +39 06 87 72 63 30 Website: laminhotels.com
Alternative Accommodation in Frascati

Participants who prefer a different type of accommodation may also consider the following hotels in nearby Frascati.

Hotel Colonna Three-star hotel Address: Piazza del Gesù 12, 00044 Frascati, Rome, Italy Telephone: +39 06 9401 8088 Email: hotelcolonna@hotelcolonna.it Website: hotelcolonna.it
Hotel Cacciani Three-star hotel Address: Via Armando Diaz 13, 00044 Frascati, Rome, Italy Telephone: +39 06 9420 378 Email: hotel@cacciani.it Website: cacciani.it
Hotel Flora Four-star hotel Address: Viale Vittorio Veneto 8, 00044 Frascati, Rome, Italy Telephone: +39 06 9416 110 Email: info@hotel-flora.it Website: hotel-flora.it
Hotel Villa Mercede Four-star hotel and spa Address: Via Tuscolana 20, 00044 Frascati, Rome, Italy Telephone: +39 06 9929 1979 Email: mail@villamercede.com Website: villamercede.com

The Games Forum Roma does not manage bookings for these alternative hotels. Participants should contact their chosen hotel directly to check current rates, availability, services, booking conditions and transport options to and from Villa Mondragone.

WOMEN, EQUALITY & EUROPE’S DIGITAL FUTURE

THE ROME ROUNDTABLE 2026

At the heart of the founding edition, Women in Games and Structura are jointly convening a dedicated international working roundtable connecting women’s organisations, equality networks and partners from games, film, media, technology, localisation, education, science, research and the creative industries. This is a two-day working roundtable, not a showcase: a collaborative space to share evidence, compare priorities and shape practical recommendations.

WHY NOW

Europe has entered a new period for gender equality to 2030. The Roundtable asks what games and the wider creative and digital industries should contribute, and what women’s organisations can achieve together that no single organisation can achieve alone.

WORKING THEMES

• Women in Innovation & STEM
• AI, Online Safety & Gender-Based Harm
• Economic Participation & Leadership
• Gender Equality & European Funding
• Collaboration & Lasting Change

WHAT IT WILL PRODUCE

• Shared priorities
• Practical recommendations
• Potential collaboration themes
• A contribution to the Rome Forum Brief
• Foundations for future European partnerships

Participation in the Roundtable is free and places are limited. Organisations may also support and contribute to the founding network even where physical attendance is not possible, with follow-up continuing beyond Rome through Circulus.

ORGANISED BY

Partners

FOUNDING IMPACT PARTNER

ECOSYSTEM PARTNERS

FORUM SUPPORTERS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

Partnership

Why Partner

Partners do not simply get visibility: they take a position in the conversation and help make an outcome possible.

Become a partner

What partnership can provide

Five levers, each distinct in what it does

Access

Curated relationships, reserved participation and hosted introductions.

Voice

Association with a strategic question and curated contribution opportunities.

Intelligence

Access to Forum outputs, working-group insights and emerging priorities.

Visibility

Credible presence across the venue, editorial content and partner networks.

Legacy

Continued association with the founding edition and relevant follow-up through Circulus.

Speaking opportunities are editorially curated. Partnership never guarantees a stage slot.

Outcome-led partnership routes

Support can be connected to a tangible result
  • Access & Participation
  • Knowledge & Rome Forum Brief
  • Women in Games Roundtable
  • Connection & Relationships
  • Experience & Culture
  • Year-Round Legacy

Named routes remain subject to editorial independence, fit and availability.

Value

Value should be measurable, not assumed.

Post-event partner reporting should distinguish reach from meaningful engagement, including audience quality, engagement, delivered assets, relevant introductions and legacy activity.

Contact

LET’S TALK

Whether you want to attend, contribute to the programme, explore a partnership or learn more about the Forum, get in touch.

    DIRECT CONTACT

    office@structuraroma.it

    Get Directions to the Event

    Venue

    Villa Mondragone · Rome, Italy

    Address

    Via Frascati, 51, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone RM

    The Games Forum Roma · 12–13 November 2026 · Villa Mondragone, Rome

    Organised by Women in Games and Structura

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