In a surprising twist for the gaming industry, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced its latest venture—the Interactive Innovation Conference, also known as iicon. This new event marks ESA’s ambitious return to hosting industry-only gatherings, stepping away from the consumer-focused model of recent years. As the legacy of E3 now fades into history, iicon promises a fresh, forward-thinking approach to connecting visionaries, thought leaders, and innovators across the gaming and interactive entertainment sectors.
Scheduled to take place from April 27 to 30, 2026, at the luxurious Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas, NV, iicon is set to become the next big thing in the gaming calendar. Unlike the modern E3 editions that opened their doors to the public, this invite-only event is designed exclusively for industry professionals. The ESA envisions iicon as a hub where groundbreaking ideas and pioneering technologies converge, enabling attendees to explore the future of interactive entertainment in a more intimate, high-level networking environment.
With the discontinuation of E3 following its costly 2021 iteration—which reportedly resulted in millions of dollars in losses—ESA has been rethinking its role in the gaming world. Now, 14 months after officially cancelling E3, the organization is returning with a completely new format that emphasizes innovation over spectacle. The Interactive Innovation Conference is a first-of-its-kind event, aimed at harnessing the collective expertise of global gaming leaders to drive the industry forward.
The list of confirmed keynote presenters reads like a who’s who of the gaming world, including representatives from industry giants such as Amazon Games, Disney, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Square Enix, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Games. This impressive lineup underscores the event’s significance and hints at the high-caliber discussions that will shape the future of gaming.
As ESA prepares to roll out invitations—likely through exclusive paid tickets—prospective attendees are encouraged to sign up for updates on the official iicon website. While full details on the agenda and additional speakers are still under wraps, the announcement itself has generated considerable excitement. Analysts predict that iicon could become a major platform for unveiling new technologies, discussing industry challenges, and setting the strategic direction for the next generation of gaming.
With the legacy of E3 behind it, ESA’s new iicon event signals a bold shift towards an innovation-focused, industry-exclusive conference. As the gaming community eagerly awaits more details, one thing is clear: the future of interactive entertainment is about to get a whole lot more exciting.
