By Sagar V. Mankar 
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is launching a new gaming conference called iicon, moving away from its previous venture E3, which officially ended last year.
This new conference, formally named the “Interactive Innovation Conference,” will take place at the Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas from April 27-30, 2026.
Unlike E3, which was open to the public and focused on game announcements, iicon is taking a different approach by targeting industry professionals and business leaders.
According to the ESA’s press release, the event will be invitation-only, bringing together executives and innovators from various sectors that intersect with gaming, including film, television, music, healthcare, education, and finance. The conference aims to explore how these industries can leverage interactive entertainment technologies.
Many major gaming companies have already committed to participating. As reported by Windows Central, the impressive lineup includes industry giants like Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Take-Two Interactive, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and several others.
Sarah Bond, President of Xbox, expressed enthusiasm about the new platform, stating, “We appreciate the ESA establishing iicon as a platform to deepen connections among executives and thought leaders from within gaming, and from a wide range of partner industries.”
Over the past few years, the decline of E3 left a noticeable gap in gaming events. While showcases like Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards have taken on some of E3’s former role, iicon will not attempt to fill that void. Instead, it positions itself as a high-level networking event focused on decision-makers rather than consumers.
Further details, including the event’s schedule and speakers, are expected to be revealed in the coming months. Interested industry professionals can pre-register and receive updates through the official iicon website.