The Itch.io Jam Calendar:
What To Enter This Spring
A curated look at the jams worth your time between April and June 2026 — sorted by commitment level, engine, and why they matter.
Itch.io's jam calendar is the kind of resource that's almost too valuable — there are hundreds of jams running or starting in any given month, and scrolling through all of them is a productivity black hole. So we did the work for you. Here's a curated look at the spring 2026 jams we think are worth signing up for, filtered by what they're best at.
Everything below is live on itch.io as of publication. Links go to the official jam pages.
Quick Entries (Under 2 Weeks)
Gamedev.js Jam 2026 — April 13–26
What it is: A 13-day jam celebrating HTML5 / web-playable games. This year's theme: "Machines". Hosted at itch.io and open globally.
Why it matters: Web games are having a real moment. YouTube Playables is actively courting developers (and the Gamedev.js Jam specifically offers a fast-track to Playables as one of the prizes). CrazyGames hits 50+ million players a month. If you've ever wanted to ship something that anyone can play without a download, this is the jam that forces you to do it.
Good for: JavaScript devs, Phaser/PlayCanvas users, anyone with a tight prototype idea. Also good if you want prizes — there's a real prize pool this year including featured marketing and 12 months of Gemini AI Pro.
Voting runs April 26 – May 9, winners announced May 10. gamedevjs.com/jam/2026/
GDevelop Big Game Jam — Starts May 15, 2026 (9 days)
What it is: GDevelop's flagship jam, co-hosted with HelperWesley. Currently sitting at 852 joined on itch as of this writing, making it one of the most popular upcoming jams.
Why it matters: GDevelop is a no-code/low-code engine that's been gaining serious steam with newer devs, and their jams are explicitly welcoming to non-programmers. If you've wanted to make a game but coding has been the wall, this is the ramp.
Good for: First-time devs, designers who don't code, artists who want to prototype. Expect a solid beginner-friendly community.
Longer-Form Jams (2+ Weeks)
Pirate Software / Heartbound-adjacent jam — Starts June 1, 2026 (42 days)
What it is: Hosted by nadia nova, deaddeaddeath, KillJill, thursdayrain, and Kyou System. 371 joined as of this writing. Runs for 42 days — a proper long-form jam where you can actually make something substantial.
Why it matters: The 48-hour jam model is great for iteration speed, but it's bad for narrative or systems-heavy games. A 42-day jam gives you enough runway to actually design a game with depth. Expect higher production quality in the submissions and a smaller, more serious entrant pool.
Good for: Narrative-focused devs, RPG-adjacent projects, small teams who want to make something with actual depth.
Weekend Warriors (7 Days)
SeeOne's Jam — Starts April 19, 2026 (7 days)
What it is: A week-long jam hosted by SeeOne with 627 joined. Ranked entry (voting enabled).
Why it matters: It's running right now as we publish this. If you want to jump in today, it's the fastest door into a well-attended ranked jam with a voting component.
PIXEL FORGE Jam — Starts April 18, 2026 (7 days)
What it is: A 7-day pixel-art focused jam. 427 joined, ranked voting.
Why it matters: Constraint-driven jams force creativity. If you've got a pixel-art aesthetic already in your toolbox, this is a natural fit. If you don't — free tools like Aseprite and Piskel get you 80% of the way there in an afternoon.
SCREAM ZONE Jam — Starts April 23, 2026
What it is: A horror-themed jam hosted by SCREAM ZONE. Narrower thematic lane, which tends to produce really distinctive entries.
Why it matters: Genre jams are where game devs go to play. If horror is your lane, this is a natural home. Even if it isn't — constraint-driven creativity often produces a dev's best work.
The "Why Is This On The List" Section
Lone Rabbit's Eternal Jam — Runs through December 31, 2029 (10 years)
What it is: A 10-year game jam. Yes, really. 597 people have joined.
Why it matters: It doesn't, strictly speaking. This is a meme jam. But there's something beautiful about the implied question: what would you make if you had ten years? You probably wouldn't submit to this jam. But sometimes the prompt itself is the exercise.
How To Actually Pick One
If you're looking at this list and don't know where to start, here's our framework:
- First jam ever? → GDevelop Big Game Jam (starts May 15). Beginner-friendly community, 9 days to figure things out, low-code options.
- Strong programmer, want to win prizes? → Gamedev.js Jam (running now through April 26). Real prize pool, web platform locks your scope naturally.
- Want to make something substantial? → The 42-day jam starting June 1. Enough runway to actually build depth.
- Just want to finish something this weekend? → SeeOne's jam (running now). Low pressure, 7 days, ranked.
- Pixel art is your love language? → PIXEL FORGE (starts April 18).
A Note On Jam Etiquette
A few things that apply to every itch.io jam, regardless of theme or host:
- Read the rules. Every jam has slightly different stances on asset use, team size, engine restrictions, and what counts as "content created during the jam." Assume nothing.
- Play other submissions. If the jam has a ranking component, your game needs ratings to be eligible. Playing and rating other games is the fastest way to get views on yours.
- Leave real comments, not just ratings. "Cool game" helps no one. "I loved the movement feel — the dash recharge timer felt generous in the right way" is the kind of note that makes other devs remember your name.
- Credit your assets. If you used free assets from Kenney, Freesound, OpenGameArt, or any other source, credit them in your itch page. It's the rules on most jams and it's the right thing to do regardless.
- Polish your itch page. Screenshots, a GIF, controls listed clearly, a one-sentence hook at the top. Most jam entries have bad itch pages. Yours doesn't have to.
We'll update this post as new jams launch or the dates firm up. If you've got a jam we should feature — especially if it's welcoming to first-timers — let us know.
— Second Shot will have team members in the spring jams. If you want to collaborate on an entry, email contact@secondshotstudio.com.