Planning your trip around LEVEL UP KL 2026 Day 2? October 15 is the single most important day of the entire three-day conference, and knowing why makes all the difference in how you plan your visit.
This guide breaks down exactly what happens on Day 2, from the SEA Game Awards Grand Finale to the conference sessions running alongside it.
LEVEL UP KL 2026 Day 2: Quick Overview
LEVEL UP KL 2026 runs October 14 to 16, 2026, at the Connexion Conference & Event Centre (CCEC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It’s organized by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), in partnership with BES Production, and endorsed by MATRADE, Malaysia’s trade promotion agency.
Day 2, October 15, stands apart from the other two days. It’s the date when the SEA Game Awards Grand Finale Show takes place, making it the conference’s single biggest moment. While Day 1 focuses on pitch sessions and Day 3 wraps up the exhibitor floor, Day 2 is where the spotlight lands.
What is LEVEL UP KL? In short, it’s Southeast Asia’s premier annual game developers conference, bringing together developers, publishers, and investors from across the region through conference talks, business matching, and the SEA Game Awards.
SEA Game Awards Grand Finale: What Happens on October 15
The SEA Game Awards, now hosted by LEVEL UP KL for its ninth year running since 2017, holds its Grand Finale Show on October 15, 2026. This is when finalists find out whether they’ve become nominees, and nominees find out whether they’ve won.
The full award cycle actually begins months earlier. Submissions opened June 3 and closed July 3, followed by an evaluation and selection process for finalists running July through August. Finalists were announced in August, and a second evaluation round for nominees and winners ran through September. Everything builds toward the live reveal on Day 2.
Being named a finalist already comes with real benefits. According to the official SEA Game Awards page, finalists receive a 1-square-meter showcase booth at the LEVEL UP KL Expo, a chance to participate in Pitch Day, plus one Business Pass and one Conference Pass for the full event. Winners additionally take home a SEA Game Awards trophy.
Who can participate? Submissions from Southeast Asian countries are eligible for all award categories, while entries from outside the region are only eligible for the “Best International Game Award.” This structure keeps the competition genuinely focused on celebrating the region’s own development talent, while still opening a door for international recognition.
LEVEL UP KL 2026 Conference and Exhibitor Hall on Day 2
Beyond the awards show, Day 2 also runs full Industry Conference programming. Sessions typically feature talks and panel discussions from industry leaders, covering trends, technical insights, and the future direction of game development across the region.
The Exhibitor Hall opens its doors on Day 2 as well, running through October 15 and 16. This is where game studios, service providers, and industry partners set up booths to showcase their work and connect face-to-face with conference attendees.
Based on 2025 figures, past LEVEL UP KL editions have drawn major industry names as sponsors, including Epic Games, Larian Studios, Double Eleven, and Virtuos. Given Malaysia’s growing reputation as a global co-development hub, hosting studios tied to major AAA titles, expect a similar caliber of exhibitor presence for the 2026 edition.
Business Matching and Talent Hub Activities
Day 2 also runs Business Matching sessions, a core pillar of LEVEL UP KL’s B2B format. These structured meetings connect developers with the right publishers, investors, and industry partners, built specifically to unlock new business opportunities beyond casual networking.
Running alongside the main conference, the Talent Hub Career Lounge offers something different: direct access to industry mentors for anyone looking to break into the games industry, strengthen a portfolio, or figure out a next career move. For US-based game development students or early-career professionals attending, this is a genuinely valuable, often overlooked part of the event.
Day 2’s packed schedule, awards, conference talks, exhibitor access, and career mentorship, makes it the most information-dense day of the entire three-day run.
Why LEVEL UP KL 2026 Matters for the Global Games Industry
LEVEL UP KL isn’t a regional footnote. It’s listed on MeetToMatch, the global B2B event-matching platform, alongside major international gaming business events like the Cologne, Tokyo, Bangkok, Shanghai, Nordic, San Francisco, and Las Vegas editions of similar industry meetups. That placement reflects real international standing.
According to MDEC, LEVEL UP KL 2026 marks the conference’s 12th edition, a notable milestone that reflects over a decade of continuous growth for Malaysia’s games industry platform. Adding to its global reach, the SEA Game Awards 2026 now includes a dedicated Steam showcase, putting Southeast Asian developer talent directly in front of a worldwide audience of PC gamers.
For American developers, publishers, or investors watching Southeast Asia’s gaming market, Day 2 of LEVEL UP KL offers a concentrated look at where the region’s top new talent, and its most promising studios, are heading next.
FAQs
What is LEVEL UP KL?
LEVEL UP KL is Southeast Asia’s premier annual game developers conference, organized by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). It combines an industry conference, business matching sessions, an exhibitor hall, and the SEA Game Awards, held each October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
What is the average salary for a game developer in Malaysia?
According to salary data from secondtalent.com, full-time game developers in Malaysia earn between RM60,000 and RM180,000 annually (roughly $12,700 to $38,000 USD), with salaries highest in Kuala Lumpur, where most major international and local studios are based. Freelance rates typically range from RM90 to RM300 per hour.
Who are the top 10 mobile game developers?
Based on download rankings for Malaysia specifically, top Malaysia-based mobile game publishers include QUEEN CITY, Indie Games Global, Glaciers Game, Sigma Team Inc., and Kurechii, a well-known Malaysian mobile studio. Globally, the most downloaded mobile games in Malaysia come from international publishers like Moonton (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang), Garena (Free Fire), and Roblox Corporation.
Which game is famous in Malaysia?
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, developed by Moonton, currently ranks as the most popular and top-grossing mobile game in Malaysia, according to Google Play chart data. Free Fire by Garena also remains consistently popular across the region.
Is LEVEL UP a game?
No. LEVEL UP KL is a business and industry conference for game developers, not a video game itself. It’s an event where studios, publishers, and investors gather to network, showcase projects, and celebrate achievements through programs like the SEA Game Awards.
Conclusion
LEVEL UP KL 2026 Day 2 brings together the conference’s biggest moments in a single day: the SEA Game Awards Grand Finale, full conference programming, exhibitor access, and career mentorship through the Talent Hub. For anyone serious about Southeast Asia’s growing games industry, October 15 is the day that matters most.
Abroy John is the Founder and Editor of Asia Pop Fests, where he covers
entertainment news and events from across Asia. He focuses on accurate,
up-to-date reporting on the region’s festivals and pop culture.
