Gaming, cosplay and AI are set to collide as Stanfest returns for its fourth edition on 31 October, bringing gamers, creators and tech enthusiasts together for a festival powered by Garnier, a global, mass-market cosmetics and personal care brand, at Presidency University, Bengaluru.
Organised by social gaming and fan engagement platform Stan, the festival will take online fandom offline, with esports competitions, creator meet-and-greets, live music and interactive experiences vying for attention.
The line-up will feature an esports league, more than 10 experience zones, a cosplay segment, an indie game developer zone and an AI Creator Lab, an AI-powered YouTube growth tool. Live performances and creator interactions will add to the mix, giving fans a chance to connect with their favourite personalities while exploring gaming and emerging technologies beyond the screen.
The previous edition drew more than 30,000 attendees and 1,500 creators, with festival-related content clocking over 200 million views. The latest outing aims to build on that momentum by turning digital communities into real-world connections.
Stan co-founder and CEO Parth Chadha shared, “Stanfest is an ode to the communities that make Stan what it is. We want to bring the connections and shared experiences people build online into the real world, while creating opportunities for them to discover new technologies, meet creators and explore gaming beyond the screen. Our focus is to make Stanfest a space where curiosity, creativity and community come together.”
The festival arrives as India’s gaming ecosystem continues to expand. More than 500 million people in the country are connected to gaming in some form, while over 550,000 5G base stations support connectivity across every district. The growing digital footprint is opening new avenues for esports and content creation, including in smaller cities.
But the next level-up will require more than bigger audiences. Original game development, talent creation, sustainable monetisation and stronger communities will be key to keeping the industry in play. Festivals such as Stanfest offer a meeting ground for fans, creators and developers to exchange ideas and explore new technologies.
Bengaluru’s technology sector, gaming industry and student population make it a fitting host. Earlier editions featured comedian and creator Samay Raina at the inaugural festival, while the most recent edition brought together creators Ashish Chanchlani and Abhishek Malhan, better known as Fukra Insaan.
Further details on creator and artist line-ups, tickets and programming are expected in the coming weeks. For now, Bengaluru is gearing up for a festival where gaming goes beyond the screen and community takes centre stage.
