LEVEL UP KL 2026 Pitch Day is on Wednesday, October 14 at Connexion Conference & Event Centre (CCEC) in Kuala Lumpur. It opens the three-day LEVEL UP KL conference run by Malaysia’s MDEC.
This guide covers what Pitch Day includes, who can still take part, and how a US studio can prepare. One quick note: this is the Malaysian games conference, not the unrelated “LEVEL UP” startup events held in other countries.
LEVEL UP KL 2026 Pitch Day: Date, Venue & Format
Date and Venue
Pitch Day takes place on October 14, 2026, at CCEC in Kuala Lumpur. MDEC lists it as a core programme, next to the Industry Conference, Business Connection Programme, Exhibition, SEA Game Awards and Masterclass Workshops, according to MDEC’s LEVEL UP KL page.
This is the 12th edition of the conference. It is organised by MDEC with BES Production and endorsed by MATRADE.
How the Three Days Fit Together
The official announcement calls LEVEL UP KL “two days” of learning and networking. The event dates are October 14 to 16. Both are right.
October 14 is Pitch Day. The Expo and main programme run October 15 and 16, based on The Magic Rain’s coverage of the SEA Game Awards. So the “two days” are the Expo days, and Pitch Day comes first.
One honest note: the run-of-show, pitch slot length and judging panel for the main Pitch Day had not been published on any page I could access. Check MDEC’s page for updates.
What Happens at LEVEL UP KL 2026 Pitch Day
Pitch Clinic & Showcase Advisory
On the same day, October 14, the Southeast Asian Games Showcase (SEAGS) runs a Pitch Clinic & Showcase Advisory with MDEC, Playstack and Ysbryd Games. Indie developers get one-on-one feedback on their pitch deck, marketing materials, showcase readiness and marketing strategy.
The four advisors, per The Magic Rain:
- Patrick Johnson, Head of Discovery at Playstack, publisher of Balatro and Abiotic Factor
- Brian Kwek, Founder of Ysbryd Games, publisher of World of Horror and VA-11 HALL-A
- Samantha Low, SEAGS co-founder and Publishing Director at Yotsuba Interactive
- Arief Johan, SEAGS co-founder and Investment Manager at 500 Global
This follows SEAGS’s first Pitch Clinic in Singapore in July 2026, held with Eliphant, Xbox and Ysbryd Games.
SEA Game Awards Finalists Pitch
The 9th SEA Game Awards, running since 2017, are held with LEVEL UP KL. Finalists get a chance to join Pitch Day, a 1-metre Expo booth, and one Business Pass and one Conference Pass. The awards show is on October 15, with 12 categories from Best Game Design to Best Student Game.
Pitching Plus the Business Connection Programme
Pitch Day sits beside the Business Connection Programme, the event’s B2B meeting system, also listed on MeetToMatch. The official announcement reports 2,000+ attendees, 30+ exhibitors and 50+ speakers, so a good pitch can turn into real meetings the next day.
How to Join LEVEL UP KL 2026 Pitch Day
What Has Already Closed
Two deadlines have passed. Pitch Clinic applications closed on September 11, and SEA Game Awards submissions closed on July 3. The event is only days away, so these routes are shut.
What You Can Still Do
Register for the Expo and conference through the official portal. A promotional listing reports the Expo Pass as free with advance registration. Confirm the current terms on the official site before you plan around it.
Follow the official channels for late updates: Facebook (LEVEL UP Kuala Lumpur), Instagram (@levelup_kl) and LinkedIn (LEVEL UP KL).
If You Miss It
The LEVEL UP KL 2026 Steam sale, with 72 Southeast Asian indie titles, runs until October 17, per SteamDB. SEA Game Awards winners are announced on October 15. For the next cycle, watch for the 2027 call for entries. Our Asia Gaming Events Calendar 2026 lists other shows worth planning around.
Pitch Day Tips for US Startups and Indie Studios
Know the Malaysian Market
Malaysia is mobile-first. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tops the country’s top-grossing mobile chart, and none of the top-grossing titles were built by Malaysian developers, according to 42matters. That leaves room for new games.
Local studios are mostly art-production and co-development partners: Streamline Studios, Lemon Sky Studios, Passion Republic and Virtuos Kuala Lumpur. They are useful contacts if you need outsourcing.
Prepare the Pitch
Use the advisors’ own focus areas as a checklist:
- A clear pitch deck
- Polished marketing materials
- Honest showcase readiness
- Marketing beats lined up with media, showcases and influencers
Travel and Time Zones
Malaysia is on UTC+8. That is about 12 hours ahead of US Eastern and 15 hours ahead of Pacific in mid-October. Flights from the US often take 20+ hours with a layover.
A Game UX Summit is listed for October 12 to 14 at CCEC’s Nexus hall, per Eventbrite. It is a single listing, so confirm before you build a trip around it.
FAQs
What conferences are being held in Malaysia in 2026?
LEVEL UP KL (October 14 to 16, CCEC) is the main games conference. SIGGRAPH Asia 2026 runs December 1 to 4 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Comic Fiesta returns December 19 to 20 at KLCC, after drawing about 73,000 visitors in 2024.
What is level up kl?
LEVEL UP KL is Southeast Asia’s premier annual game developers conference. MDEC organises it with BES Production, and MATRADE endorses it.
What is the average salary for a game developer in Malaysia?
Estimates vary by source. JobStreet puts it at RM 5,050 to RM 7,550 per month. Paylab reports that 80% of game developers earn RM 4,243 to RM 12,780 per month. Treat both as estimates, and convert at the current exchange rate.
Which game is famous in Malaysia?
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang leads Malaysia’s top-grossing mobile games. Malaysia has also hosted two world championships for it, M1 and M6 in Kuala Lumpur.
What are the top 10 game companies in Malaysia?
There is no official ranking. Ten notable studios are Streamline Studios, Lemon Sky Studios, Passion Republic, Virtuos Kuala Lumpur, Larian Studios (KL), Bandai Namco Studios Malaysia, PlayStation Studios Malaysia, Appxplore, Metronomik and Gameka. Streamline reports 300+ AAA productions since 2001, and Passion Republic worked on art for Uncharted 4.
Is level up a game?
No. LEVEL UP KL is a conference. “Level up” is also a gaming term for advancing a character, and Level Up! Games was a separate Philippine publisher, acquired by Asiasoft in 2014.
Conclusion
LEVEL UP KL 2026 Pitch Day is on October 14, ahead of the October 15 to 16 Expo. The Pitch Clinic and award-finalist routes have closed, but Expo registration, B2B meetings and the Steam sale are still open. Check MDEC’s page for the final Pitch Day format.
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.
