The Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria (AGIB) has confirmed that the Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo (BEGE) and the Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) will run as scheduled in 2026, rejecting reports that the exhibition could rotate between Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania.
In an official statement, the association said preparations for both events are progressing on schedule and dismissed recent speculation about their future as unfounded. BEGE and EEGS have run for 17 years and are held annually in Bulgaria, covering land-based casinos and gaming halls, online and live casino, sports betting, payment solutions, software platforms and gaming tourism.
AGIB rejects the rotation claims
The association addressed the specific claim that BEGE would move between Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, calling it false. AGIB said BEGE is an international exhibition permanently hosted in Bulgaria and used by operators, suppliers, investors, regulators and industry figures from across the Balkans and beyond.
AGIB framed the events as the region’s main meeting point for the sector, a position it said has been built on consistency through economic uncertainty, legislative change and market disruption. The accompanying EEGS conference, the association said, has featured international speakers and industry figures over successive editions.
“BEGE and EEGS 2026 will take place as planned. Preparations are progressing as scheduled, and our team is working closely with exhibitors, partners, speakers, institutions, and suppliers to deliver yet another successful edition of the region’s leading gaming industry event,” AGIB stated.
A thinner regional calendar
AGIB’s statement lands against a shrinking set of Balkan trade events. The association said Romania’s gaming exhibition is no longer taking place, while the Belgrade event remains focused mainly on the Serbian domestic market. On that basis, AGIB positioned BEGE as the only international exhibition dedicated to the Balkan gaming industry.
The association said the events draw participants from across the region as well as from Central and Western Europe and the United Kingdom. It did not publish attendance or exhibitor figures for the 2026 editions alongside the statement.
A warning on unverified claims
AGIB cautioned that the spread of unverified information about the events serves neither the industry nor Bulgaria, arguing that it creates uncertainty for companies and partners planning their participation. The association urged stakeholders to rely only on the organisers’ official communication channels for deadlines, updates and organisational details.
The statement does not confirm dates or a venue for the 2026 editions, and AGIB has said those details will come through its own channels. For exhibitors weighing where to commit budgets across a narrowing Balkan events calendar, the association’s message is that BEGE and EEGS remain fixed in Bulgaria.
Source: Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria
