Bologna Game Farm, Emilia-Romagna’s public accelerator for B2C video games, has officially launched the sixth edition of its accelerator programme.
The acceleration programme, which will once again take place this year at the Serre di ART-ER in Bologna’s Giardini Margherita, will include ‘open’ acceleration days for the regional gaming ecosystem, as well as an Open Day. During these events, mentors will explore topics such as game design, the technological aspects of developing vertical slices, publishing, IP, financial sustainability and much more.
This first phase of the acceleration programme, which officially began on 17 June and will run until October 2026, will guide the eight winning projects from the call for proposals through the development of a vertical slice, a presentation pitch, a business plan and a publishing strategy.
This edition spans two years and is structured as a two-phase programme, co-funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region with ERDF 2021–2027 funds.
Subsequently, two teams will be selected who, in 2027, will carry out the full development of their video game and the associated launch plan, receiving a non-repayable grant of 15,000 euros each.
The Bologna Game Farm 2026 call for applications, which this year has a regional focus, has been opened to businesses, freelancers and, for the first time, associations and individuals, with the aim of engaging and promoting the creative and design skills of professionals, students and enthusiasts who form part of the Emilia-Romagna gaming ecosystem
Below is the full calendar of acceleration days and Open Days open to the entire regional gaming ecosystem – to be held at the Bologna Game Farm accelerator within the Serre dei Giardini Margherita (Via Castiglione 136, Bologna) – along with the topics to be covered:
24 June 2026 – Production, publishing and business plan
8 July 2026 – Video game budgeting
9 July 2026 – Game design
16 July 2026 – Programming
9 September 2026 – Graphics, art, UX and UI
10 September 2026 – Music and localisation
24 September 2026 – Intellectual property and financial sustainability
To register for the events, please complete the form at this LINK, selecting one or more dates.
To register for the OPEN DAY, which will take place on Wednesday 16 September 2026 from 10:00 to 18:00, please complete the form at the following LINK
All events and their respective registration links are also available in the EVENTS section of the Bologna Game Farm website.
For further information, please email: bolognagamefarm@comune.bologna.it