International Summer School on AI and Games 2026
The 8th International Summer School on Artificial Intelligence and Games will be held in Leiden, The Netherlands, 15-19 June 2026!
Join the leading global event dedicated to the intersection of AI and games! This summer school provides an intensive learning experience covering cutting-edge AI techniques in game playing, content generation, and player modelling delivered by leading experts from the games industry. This summer school offers an unparalleled deep dive into AI and Machine Learning for games. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or industry professional, this is your chance to explore the future of AI in gaming with world-class experts.
Designed for game developers, designers, programmers, and AI researchers, the program combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, including expert-led talks and tutorials and a Game AI Jam to apply your new skills.
Testimonials from Our Past Speakers & Participants
"Few events offer this kind of direct interaction between students, researchers, and industry professionals. The Summer School on AI and Games is a must for anyone starting in the field."
Wesley Kerr
Head of Technology Research
"The Summer School is a fantastic event where students and experts alike engage in high-level discussions on AI in games. The mix of research and industry perspectives makes it truly unique."
Duygu Cakmak
R&D Director
"I've had the huge privilege to attend twice, learnt more each time and met so many amazing people from across a huge range of global origins, career stages and overall awesomeness."
Sam Devlin
Principal Researcher (Games + AI)
"It was an amazing opportunity for me to learn pioneering game AI techniques in academia and industry, and to make wonderful research connections with the most influential game AI researchers in the world"
Jaeyoung Moon
PhD Student
"As an AI researcher and video games fan, the AI & Games summer school was an amazing experience to learn about the intersection of AI & Games."
Wafa Aissa
Postdoctoral Researcher
"Attending the AI & Games Summer School early in my PhD was an incredible experience—engaging, inspiring, and full of hands-on learning. It shaped my understanding of game AI and connected me with an amazing community."
Enrica Loria
Senior Game Analytics Engineer
Who should attend?
The Summer School is aimed at Graduate Students in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Games, HCI, and Computational Intelligence; Game Developers, Designers, and Programmers; and AI Researchers interested in applying AI to games.
What to Expect?
Engaging Lectures – Gain insights into the latest research and developments in AI for games, from reinforcement learning to generative AI.
Hands-on Workshops – Participate in interactive sessions where you will apply AI techniques to real-world gaming problems, guided by leading experts.
Networking Opportunities – Connect with peers, researchers, and industry professionals, forging relationships that could lead to future collaborations.
Game AI Jam – Put your knowledge into action by collaborating on creative AI-driven game projects in an exciting challenge.
Meet the Experts
The summer school is led by Georgios N. Yannakakis and Julian Togelius, co-authors of Artificial Intelligence and Games, the first comprehensive textbook on AI applications in gaming. They are joined by guest lecturers from the game industry, bringing diverse perspectives and cutting-edge insights into AI-driven game development.
Partners this Year
More partners will be announced soon...
Corporate Services / Accounting Partner
Past Partners
Main Organizers
Georgios N. Yannakakis
Co-Founder | modl.ai
Professor | IDG, University of Malta
Georgios N. Yannakakis (yannakakis.net) is a Co-Founder and Research Director (Malta) of modl.ai, and a Professor at the Institute of Digital Games, University of Malta. He is a leading expert in the game artificial intelligence research field with core theoretical contributions in machine learning, evolutionary computation, affective computing and player modelling, computational creativity and procedural content generation. He has published more than 300 papers and his work has been cited broadly. He has attracted funding from several EU and national research agencies and received multiple awards for published work in top-tier journals and conferences. His work has been featured in New Scientist, Science Magazine, The Guardian, Le Monde and other venues. He is regularly invited to give keynote talks at the most recognised conferences in his areas of research activity and has organised a few of the most respected conferences in the areas of game AI and game research. He is an IEEE Fellow for contributions to affective computing and artificial intelligence applied to games and the Editor in Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Games. He has been an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Computational Intelligence and AI in Games and the IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing journals. He is the co-author of the Artificial Intelligence and Games Textbook.
Julian Togelius
Co-Founder & Research Director | modl.ai
Associate Professor | NYU Tandon
Julian Togelius (julian.togelius.com) is a Co-Founder and Research Director (New York) of modl.ai, and an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. Previously, he was an Associate Professor at the Center for Computer Games Research, IT University of Copenhagen and among the founders of the procedural content generation research field. Togelius has introduced core procedural generation paradigms and frameworks for game content such as the Experience-driven Procedural Content Generation (EDPCG) framework and the Search-based Procedural Content Generation (SBPCG) paradigm which define two of the leading research trends within procedural content generation. EDPCG couples player experience modelling and procedural content generation so that game content is generated in a personalised manner for affecting the experience of the player and SBPCG offers a taxonomy for the generation of game content through search. He co-edited the first book on Procedural Content Generation in Games. Togelius' research has appeared in respected international media such as New Scientist, and Le Monde. He is the co-author of the Artificial Intelligence and Games textbook.
David Melhart
Assistant Professor | SDU Metaverse Lab
Organizing Committee
Antonios Liapis
Associate Professor | IDG, University of Malta
Antonios Liapis is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Digital Games, University of Malta, where he bridges the gap between game technology and game design in courses focusing on human-computer creativity, digital prototyping and game development. His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence as an autonomous creator or as a facilitator of human creativity. His work includes computationally intelligent tools for game design, as well as computational creators that blend semantics, visuals, sound, plot and level structure to create horror games, adventure games and more. He has also co-organized numerous game jams, and has participated in even more!
Local Organizers
Mike Preuss
Associate Professor | LIACS, University of Leiden
Program
Each year we strive to bring a diverse program from different aspects of applied AI research and game development.
|
Foundations
|
AI and Games
Summit |
Talks & Game Jam
|
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| Monday 15 June |
Tuesday 16 June |
Wednesday 17 June |
Thursday 18 June |
Friday 19 June |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30-09:00 | Registration | ||||
| 09:00-17:00 | Introduction and State of the Art |
Innovation and State of Practice |
Future of Game AI + Game AI Jam |
Game AI Jam | |
| from 17:30 | Welcome Reception |
Farewell Reception |
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The program includes a lunch and two coffee breaks each day.
We are working on this year's program. In the meantime, check out what happened in previous years!
Registration
Registreation will open sometime early next year.
Our exclusive in-person event offers a great selection of live lectures & workshops by industry-leading experts, one-on-one speed meetings with the organizers, networking opportunities with our guest speakers, and a game AI jam at the end of the summer school!
Main Conference Venue
The 8th International Summer School on Artificial Intelligence and Games will be held in Leiden, The Netherlands, at Leiden University, Gorlaeus Building of the Faculty of Science. The building is located 20 minutes on foot from the Leiden Central Station.
