BAFTA Games in Concert Tour: Celebrating 20 Years of Iconic Video Game Scores

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced a major new live orchestral event, BAFTA Games in Concert, which will tour the UK and worldwide in 2026. This landmark production is a celebration of “20 years of BAFTA-nominated and award-winning games music,” cementing the status of video game scores as a serious and powerful art form within the entertainment investment landscape.

The concert’s world premiere is set for Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Following this debut, the show, which features the acclaimed BBC Concert Orchestra, will embark on a global tour with dates in various international cities to be confirmed, making this a must-see event for fans of orchestral music and AAA gaming alike.

Conductor, Orchestra, and Immersive Presentation

This high-profile event is being presented in collaboration with Nibbs Events and Esk, promising a premium gaming concert experience. The BBC Concert Orchestra will perform under the direction of celebrated composer and conductor Austin Wintory, known for his work on BAFTA-winning titles such as Journey and Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. Wintory’s involvement guarantees a level of authenticity and respect for the source material that is paramount to the video game industry.

The production is designed to be deeply immersive, going beyond a simple orchestral performance. The music will be synchronised live with dynamic visuals, gameplay, and imagery from the featured games. This fusion of sight and sound aims to recreate the emotional intensity and cultural power that these soundtracks have commanded over the last two decades, offering fans a unique opportunity to “step inside” their favourite virtual worlds.

Confirmed Setlist Highlights: Blockbusters and Indie Gems

The concert’s repertoire is set to feature a powerful selection of music from key nominees and winners of the BAFTA Games Awards Music category. The initial confirmed setlist showcases the impressive diversity of scores recognised by the Academy, balancing massive blockbuster titles with innovative indie games to highlight the full spectrum of talent in game development and musical composition. This variety ensures broad appeal and drives excitement across multiple consumer electronics demographics.

Confirmed games whose scores will be performed include:

• Baldur’s Gate 3 (Composer: Borislav Slavov): The sweeping, epic score from the recent Game of the Year winner will feature prominently.
• Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture (Composer: Jessica Curry): Showcasing the atmospheric and deeply emotional work of one of the industry’s most revered composers.
• Hitman: Contracts (Composer: Jesper Kyd): Representing the iconic, mood-setting electronic and orchestral fusion of the stealth-action genre.
• Tomb Raider: Legend (Composer: Troels Brun Folmann): A powerful score that helped redefine a classic franchise for a new generation.
• Assassin’s Creed (Composer: Jesper Kyd): Music from the groundbreaking series that launched a billion-dollar franchise.
• Cuphead (Composer: Kristofer Maddigan): The infectious, unique jazz and big band score that captured the world’s imagination.
• Journey (Composer: Austin Wintory): The BAFTA-winning score that remains a benchmark for emotionally resonant game music.

BAFTA has also confirmed that additional special guests and more game selections—spanning both AAA and independent titles—will be announced in the run-up to the event. The inclusion of composers like Jessica Curry, Borislav Slavov, and Austin Wintory himself ensures a high-quality program that elevates the profile of video game composers on the global stage.

The Business of Games Music and High CPC Keywords

This tour is more than a cultural event; it is a significant market signal, reflecting the rising commercial importance of video game intellectual property outside of the core game sales. Events like BAFTA Games in Concert leverage powerful, high CPC keywords such as “video game concert,” “game soundtrack,” “esports,” and “orchestral performance” to attract a premium audience willing to invest in unique, high-value experiences. The success of this tour will further validate video game music as a lucrative segment of the wider entertainment market, driving further investment into original scores and large-scale live events.

Stay tuned to official BAFTA and tour channels for the release of international dates for this landmark celebration of interactive entertainment and its extraordinary musical heritage.