LevelUp Northeast 2026 Is Set to Launch India's Biggest Regional Gaming and Esports Event
- Sagar Mankar
- 9 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), alongside the Indian Digital Gaming and Esports Society (IDGES) and the Government of Nagaland, has announced LevelUp Northeast 2026, a dedicated gaming and esports event coming to Dimapur this month.
The event is scheduled for March 28 and 29, 2026, at the Agri Expo Complex in Dimapur, Nagaland.
It is being positioned as the Northeast's first dedicated platform for esports, gaming, and digital transformation.
What Is LevelUp Northeast 2026?
At its core, the event is built around the AVGC-XR sector, which stands for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.
The goal is to bring together game studios, tech companies, industry leaders, and up-and-coming creators under one roof.
Think of it as a mix of a gaming convention, a career fair, and a competitive esports tournament, all rolled into one regional event.
Here is a quick look at what attendees can expect:
An AVGC-XR and Gaming Expo featuring game studios and cutting-edge tech
Esports tournaments across multiple titles
Masterclasses on game development, esports careers, and digital technologies
A job fair with opportunities in gaming, animation, and digital media
An Industry-Academia Roundtable to build stronger talent pipelines
A Sketch-Up Digital Art Competition for digital illustrators and visual storytellers
The Indian Super Gaming League Is Launching Here
One of the biggest announcements tied to LevelUp Northeast 2026 is the launch of the Indian Super Gaming League, or ISGL, by Lets Game Now.
According to the organizers, the ISGL is designed to give grassroots esports players a structured path toward national recognition and professional opportunities.
The league will kick off with a nationwide qualifier circuit. Players who make it through will get to showcase their skills in front of industry experts.
The grand finale is planned in Vizag, with a prize pool of Rs. 50 lakh up for grabs.
The competitive titles confirmed for the ISGL qualifiers include:
Call of Duty
EA Sports FC 26
Cricket 26
Chess
Education and Career Development Take Center Stage
What makes this event stand out from a typical esports tournament is the strong focus on education and careers.
Masterclasses and skill-building sessions will cover areas like game development workflows, career paths in esports, and emerging technologies in the digital space.
The job fair component is particularly interesting for students and young professionals in the Northeast. It gives them direct access to companies that are actively hiring in gaming, animation, esports, and digital media.
Institutions like the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) are also expected to take part in the Industry-Academia Roundtable discussions.
Partners and Support
ACER has come on board as the Gaming Partner, providing hardware to power the esports setups at the event.
Faith Hospital will serve as the Medical Support Partner, handling on-site medical assistance throughout the two-day event.
Why This Matters for the Northeast
India's gaming industry has been growing at a rapid pace, but that growth has mostly been concentrated in metro cities. LevelUp Northeast 2026 is a direct attempt to change that.
By bringing competitions, education, and industry collaboration to Dimapur, the event is essentially laying the groundwork for a regional gaming ecosystem that can compete on a national level.
For anyone in the Northeast who has been looking for a way into the gaming or esports industry, this event is worth paying close attention to.