Official Title
“BitSummit PUNCH (BitSummit Punch)”
Event Overview
The Japan Independent Games Association (JIGA) announces the holding of “BitSummit PUNCH,” Japan’s largest indie game festival, to be held at Miyako Messe (Kyoto International Exhibition Hall) from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24, 2026.
↓↓↓ Entry for “BitSummit PUNCH” is here ↓↓↓
Entry Application System (https://bs-entry-system.com/)
Exhibition Fees
[Entry Fee]: ¥2,750 (tax included) per title
[Entry Application Deadline]: By 16:00 on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (JST)
* The entry fee is the screening fee required to submit a title.
* Please note that the entry fee is non-refundable regardless of the screening result.
[Exhibition Fee]: ¥33,000 (tax included) per booth
* The exhibition fee is the booth fee payable after passing the screening.
[Student Discount on Exhibition Fee!]
BitSummit PUNCH offers a student discount on the exhibition fee.
Eligible students are as follows:
・University/Graduate school/Vocational school/Junior college students
・High school students and younger
* Limited to cases where the representative at the time of entry is a student as defined above.
[Exhibition Fee for Eligible Students]: ¥11,000 (tax included) per booth
After entry, we will confirm your intent to exhibit when notifying screening results.
If you wish to use the student discount at that time, please inform us. You will need to present an image of your student ID or other proof.
* Exhibitors under 18 years old must submit a guardian’s consent form.
* The entry fee remains unchanged.
* The exhibition (booth) fee is payable after exhibition is confirmed.
Payment Methods
Payments should be made to the Japan Independent Games Association. Available methods are credit card (Stripe), PayPal, and bank transfer.
[PayPal/Stripe]
PayPal/Stripe payments are available via the Entry Application System.
[Bank Transfer] *Domestic transfers only
If paying by bank transfer, please remit to the following account.
<Domestic bank transfer details>
Bank Name: MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Branch: Semba-Chuo Branch
Account Type: Ordinary Account
Account Number: 0055450
Account Holder: Japan Independent Games Association (一般社団法人 日本インディペンデント・ゲーム協会)
* We kindly ask that you bear the transfer fee.
[Entry Transfer Deadline]
By Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (Japan time)
*Notes
・When making the transfer, be sure to use your personal name or your company’s legal name (the name used at entry) as the remitter.
・The exhibition (booth) fee is payable after exhibition is confirmed.
・For bank transfers, after completion we will send you a code, so please contact us at contact@bitsummit.org to inform us.
Entry and Booth Exhibition Regulations
・Only titles that pass screening after entry may be exhibited by BitSummit exhibitors. Titles that have not been entered or have not passed screening cannot be exhibited.
・You may enter only one title per application. Whether individual or group, if you wish to enter multiple titles, please submit a separate application for each title.
* An entry fee of ¥2,750 (tax included) will be charged per title.
・One booth may be exhibited per title that passes screening.
* However, if you wish to exhibit as a group in one booth, please indicate this in advance in the remarks section of the entry form.
Eligibility of Exhibiting Organizations
Eligible developers are those who meet the conditions below (no distinction between individuals and corporations).
・Development scale of approximately 50 members or fewer.
・Titles that may infringe third-party rights may be refused exhibition.
・Developers with annual game business revenue of ¥25,000,000 or less
* If your annual revenue is ¥25,000,000 or more, or if your title is being produced with development funding from a publisher, please consult us at contact@bitsummit.org.
・If the exhibition relates to a country/region for which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Overseas Safety Information has issued Level 3 (Avoid All Travel) or higher, your application may be declined. (https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp)
We appreciate your sound judgment and cooperation.
Above all, what matters most is your “indie spirit”!!
Eligible Works
Titles self-planned and self-developed (or in development) are eligible for exhibition.
For derivative works (secondary creations), please first confirm permission to exhibit with the IP holder.
The organizers will respect the intentions of IP holders.
The organizers will not contact IP holders on your behalf.
We also cannot accept any responsibility regarding these matters.
Exhibits must comply with the CESA and CERO ethical guidelines and must not fall under any of the following:
- Includes expressions that violate or may violate CERO Ethical Guidelines, Appendix 3 “Prohibited Expressions.”
- Has received or may contain expressions corresponding to CERO rating “Z.”
- Already released overseas and designated “17+ (MATURE)” by an overseas ratings body (e.g., ESRB).
- Planned for overseas release and may be designated “17+ (MATURE)” by an overseas ratings body (e.g., ESRB).
Booth Specifications
The following is the standard for one slot. *This is a guideline only; booth contents are subject to change.
- 1 table – 180 cm × 45 cm
- 2 chairs – additional requests can be discussed separately
- Power outlets – 750 W – 2 sockets
– To allow as many developers as possible to participate, if the number of applicants is high, one table may be shared by two groups. Thank you for your understanding. However, sharing one slot with non-applicant friends/acquaintances is strictly prohibited. If you wish to share, please consult us in advance.
– Internet connections for each booth will not be provided.
– There is no parking lot for load-in/load-out at the venue; please use public transportation, etc.
– Projections on walls or outside the booth are prohibited. Any actions that may disturb neighboring booths are strictly prohibited.
– Please be considerate and use headphones, etc.
– Equipment necessary for exhibition—such as PCs, displays, and printed materials—must be prepared by the exhibitor.
*We are currently considering an equipment rental service. Details on rentals will be announced separately. Additional detailed booth specifications and setup rules will be provided in the Exhibitor Manual.
On-site Sales
Sales within your allotted space (e.g., on your table) are permitted at the exhibitor’s responsibility.
– However, price display is mandatory. –
The organizers assume no responsibility for loss, theft, or damage.
Booth Placement
You cannot choose your exhibition location within the venue.
Placement will follow the organizer’s operational policy, including the assignment of on-site support volunteers.
Booth exchanges between exhibitors are also prohibited.
Publishers’ Exhibition
As BitSummit is positioned as an event for developers, we ask that entries be submitted by the developers themselves in principle.
If you have separate requests or opinions, please contact the organizers directly.
Other
There may be visitors from overseas on the day. While game localization is not mandatory, we recommend preparing English translations of control panels and other materials as needed.
BitSummit is a Japanese event that places importance on domestic creators, but we welcome participation from around the world. Please refer to the English page for details.
The 2026 edition is planned as a three-day event: one Business Day and two Public Days. Exhibitors are, in principle, requested to exhibit for all three days. If you are absolutely unable to attend all three days, please consult us in advance.
Entry Deadline
By 16:00 (JST) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
* If applications exceed capacity, screening will be based on content.
* We may conduct late entry depending on the application status.
* Depending on your application content, we may ask additional questions.
* If you have any questions, please contact us directly by email, etc.
* Please note that we cannot respond to inquiries regarding screening results until the announcement is made.
Post-Entry Process
Screening results are scheduled to be notified by email in mid to late February 2026. Please reply with your intent to participate within approximately one week thereafter.
If a team that has passed screening declines to participate, or if final intent to participate is not confirmed by the deadline, we will notify the next team on the waiting list, so please be aware.
Teams whose intent to participate is confirmed will be informed of the payment destination and deadline for the ¥33,000 (tax-included) exhibition fee.
Infection Prevention Measures
We are considering thorough measures by specialized contractors to ensure participants can join with peace of mind.
Contact
contact@bitsummit.org
Venue
Miyako Messe (Kyoto International Exhibition Hall)
〒606-8343 9-1 Okazaki Seishōjichō, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City (Nijō-dōri, east of Higashioji-dōri)