National, October 29, 2026: STAN, a social gaming and community platform, will host the fourth edition of STANFEST, powered by Garnier, on October 31 at Presidency University, Bengaluru. The festival will bring together brands across gaming, technology, lifestyle, food and digital services, alongside esports competitions, creator interactions and other on-ground activities.
The participating brands include Garnier, Google Play, Sony PlayStation, Noise, Scapia, Go Zero, Gully Labs, Sunfeast Dark Fantasy, Lighter, Jigri, STAN Shop and Yap Club, among others. Their participation spans different categories, reflecting the growing overlap between digital communities, consumer brands and in-person experiences. The festival is expected to draw over 30,000 attendees and 1,500 creators, with 20+ brands participating.
The event comes amid growth in India’s organised live entertainment sector. According to the FICCI-EY Media and Entertainment Report 2026, the organised live events segment grew by 44% in 2025. An EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow study found that 78% of surveyed Indian consumers preferred spending on experiences over products, highlighting changing consumer preferences around entertainment and leisure.
STAN has recorded 190% growth in brand collaborations over the past three years, as brands look to engage gaming communities and digitally active audiences through formats that extend beyond online platforms.
Founded in 2022, STAN has grown into a social gaming and community platform with over 50 million users and more than 60 million monthly interactions. Its audience is also expanding across age groups, with 150% growth in users aged 25–34 and people aged 35 and above accounting for 30% of its audience. The platform’s broader STANVERSE ecosystem includes Jigri, STAN Shop and Yap Club, with offerings spanning social connections, shopping and rewards.
“STANFEST is an extension of the communities that come together on STAN, creating an opportunity for fans, creators and brands to connect beyond the digital world. With this edition, we aim to bring together gaming, technology and youth culture through experiences that encourage participation, discovery and real-world connections,” said Parth Chadha, Co-Founder and CEO, STAN.
The event programme will include esports LAN tournaments, cosplay, creator meet-and-greets, fireside chats, a retro gaming zone and entertainment performances. A supercar display and brand-led interactive experiences will also feature in the programme.
This year’s edition will include the Final Boss Arena, a showcase for young and independent game developers to present their games to a live audience. Some developers are expected to showcase their work publicly for the first time. The initiative will also create opportunities for developers to interact with venture capitalists and investors.
STANFEST 2026 will bring together gaming communities, creators, developers and consumer brands for an in-person event, reflecting the growing convergence of digital platforms and live entertainment in India.
