Accessibility as a design principle: how TwitchCon Europe is raising the bar

The accessibility measures at the 2025 edition were already so thoughtfully designed that they earned consultant Marianne Dijkshoorn of Welkom Toegankelijkheid & Evenementen a Golden Giraffe Award for sustainability. During a guided tour of the third edition at Rotterdam Ahoy — on 30 and 31 May 2026 — she shows how the bar has been raised even higher this year.

For the time being, this will be the last edition here: in 2027, the European congress of TwitchCon, the global streaming platform for gamers, will move to Berlin. One can only hope that the local authorities there will lend as much support to Twitch's inclusivity efforts as the City of Rotterdam has.

A relatively large group

It is hardly surprising that Twitch, part of Amazon, places so much value on accessibility for people with disabilities. After all, they make up a relatively large group within the online gaming and streaming community, Dijkshoorn explains: precisely because activities outside the home often require extra effort, taking part online is appealing to them.

Last year's measures had an immediate effect. The proportion of visitors with a visible disability rose from roughly 1 in 200 to 1 in 70. And a press release on accessibility, sent out shortly before the event, generated around 1,000 additional ticket sales in the final days.

Communication as an essential provision

Communication is a component that is as essential as it is effective, Dijkshoorn argues. At Ahoy, this is apparent from the very start in the entry queues, with a dedicated — clearly and repeatedly signposted — entrance for Accessible Wristbands. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard allows the pre-trained staff to recognise who might need extra assistance. Signage for the various facilities can be found throughout the congress and across the entire exhibition floor.

Watch the TwitchCon Europe 2026 accessibility aftermovie here

Furniture is another key consideration. Simple beer-table benches are placed outside every hall, so that people with disabilities can sit while waiting. At the same time, the benches mark a separate access lane to the hall. In the larger halls, wheelchair mats are laid out in spots with a good view of the stage, alongside chairs with distinctive covers — always in pairs, for a companion or to place assistive equipment. In the furnished areas, it is above all the variety that stands out, including lower furniture and tables that a wheelchair can fit under.

Low-stimulus AFK rooms

Throughout Ahoy you will find rooms with a special purpose. There are two low-stimulus quiet rooms (AFK rooms, after "Away From Keyboard"), where people can do crafts under dimmed lighting or withdraw completely in a screened-off zone. There is also a room with a Changing Places facility, which allows for lying-down personal care, as well as a baby room for parents and carers.

Dijkshoorn is also proud of the accessible toilets across the entire venue — and of one simple aid: a pull cord on the door handle that makes opening and closing the toilet door from a wheelchair considerably easier.