+XP Sessions and Universidade Lusófona launch Game Jam focused on diversity and representation in games

Free event takes place in Lisbon from 18 to 20 September, bringing together participants from different backgrounds and experience levels in a space for creation, collaboration and community.

LISBON, AUGUST 2026 — +XP Sessions, in partnership with Universidade Lusófona, will host the first +XP Game Jam from 18 to 20 September 2026, a free initiative focused on diversity and representation within the games industry.

Over three days, participants from different backgrounds and levels of experience will be invited to form teams and develop a game project around a shared theme, in an environment designed to encourage collaboration, experimentation, knowledge sharing and new connections within the community.

The +XP Game Jam is aimed at people already working professionally in the games industry and at students, people beginning or transitioning into their careers, and participants trying their hand at game creation for the first time.

The initiative will place particular emphasis on the participation of people from groups that remain underrepresented within the games industry, intentionally creating a space where different identities, experiences and career paths are part of the event from the outset.

Participation will be open to anyone who aligns with the principles of the initiative.

“A talk can show that a career is possible, but a Game Jam allows you to experience that possibility. For us, this felt like a natural next step: creating a space where people can work together, test their skills and experience first-hand what it means to make a game.

We want to create a space where people who may still find themselves in the minority within their teams, courses or professional environments can make games together, whether they are taking their first steps, have always wanted to try but never had the opportunity, or have already been working in the industry for years.”

— Carolina Rocha, +XP Sessions

Throughout the +XP Game Jam, participants will also have opportunities to receive guidance and feedback from professionals working in the sector. The aim is to provide a setting where people can experiment with ideas, learn from one another and build new professional and community connections.

Making a game also involves far more than programming and art. Teams may draw on skills across game design, narrative, production, audio, communications and other disciplines relevant to game development, reflecting the breadth of roles and career paths that exist across the industry.

This +XP Game Jam is an extension of the work developed by +XP Sessions, an initiative working towards a Portuguese games industry that is more visible, accessible and representative. Through sessions, workshops, mentoring, community gatherings and institutional partnerships, +XP Sessions creates connections between professionals, students, people at different stages of their careers, educational institutions and the wider community.

The initiative follows a principle of intentional representation: it is inclusive and open to everyone, while deliberately prioritising space, visibility and opportunities for voices that have historically had less access and representation within the industry.

Event Information

Event: +XP Game Jam

Dates: 18–20 September 2026

Location: Universidade Lusófona — Centro Universitário Lisboa

Participation: Free

Registration: https://forms.gle/sdTR47iDnujQUpzTA

Registration deadline: 12 September 2026

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