Truth, Lies & Democracy

“Truth, Lies & Democracy” (TLD) is an immersive 48-hour game jam uniting creativity, technology, and civic engagement to explore one of the most urgent challenges of our time: disinformation.

International developer teams come together in the European Capital of Democracy to build playable, thought-provoking games that make misinformation tangible – and teach players how to navigate the blurred lines between truth and lies.

Launched in Barcelona in 2024 and hosted in Vienna in 2025, TLD now travels to Cascais, the European Capital of Democracy 2026, for its third edition on 4–6 December 2026.

TRUTH, LIES & DEMOCRACY

An immersive 48-hour game jam in the European Capital of Democracy,
exploring one of the most urgent challenges of our time: disinformation.

GAMES THAT TACKLE FAKE NEWS
AND MAKE DISINFORMATION TANGIBLE

Truth, Lies & Democracy (TLD) is an immersive 48-hour game jam uniting creativity, technology, and civic engagement to explore one of the most urgent challenges of our time: disinformation.

International developer teams come together in the European Capital of Democracy to create playable, thought-provoking games that make disinformation tangible and teach players how to navigate the blurred lines between truth and lies.

After a vibrant launch in Barcelona and a flagship edition in Vienna, TLD comes to Cascais, European Capital of Democracy 2026, on 4–6 December 2026, and travels on to Brussels, European Capital of Democracy 2027, in spring 2027.

TRUTH, LIES & DEMOCRACY 2026:
THE GAME JAM IN CASCAIS

THE TOPIC

The third edition of Truth, Lies & Democracy expands the conversation from traditional “fake news” to the emerging impact of AI on information ecosystems. Teams build games that explore topics such as:

• AI-generated content and deepfakes
• Automated systems that influence public opinion
• Algorithms that boost misleading or polarising narratives
• Ethical questions around AI and digital responsibility
• How democracies can stay resilient in rapidly changing digital environments

The aim is not just to spot misinformation, but to create interactive experiences that show how digital manipulation works – and how societies can push back.

THE WEEKEND

MENTORS & JURY

Teams are supported throughout the 48 hours by mentors from game design, technology, media literacy and democracy. An interdisciplinary jury reviews every game and presents the awards at the closing event.

Name, Surname

Title

Name, Surname

Title

Name, Surname

Title

Name, Surname

Title

APPLY TO JOIN THE GAME JAM

Ready to build a game that challenges fake news, disinformation, and digital manipulation?

Registration for international participants: closed Deadline for Portuguese participants: 30 September 2026

Truth, Lies & Democracy 2026 4-6 December, 2026 Cascais, Portugal

Applications for Portuguese participants and teams are still open. Apply now as a team of 3-4 people, or on your own – individual applicants are matched with others to form a team. International applications for TLD26 are closed.

Ready to build a game that challenges fake news, disinformation, and digital manipulation?

Open to everyone

Truth, Lies & Democracy 2027 Spring 2027 Brussels, Belgium

Truth, Lies & Democracy travels on to Brussels, European Capital of Democracy 2027, in spring 2027. Gamers across Europe can already apply to be considered for the Brussels edition.

Sounds great – I want to join

Who Should Apply?

You should apply if you:

enjoy making games, prototypes, interactive stories, or playful digital experiences;
can contribute to a team as a programmer, game designer, artist, writer, UI/UX designer, sound designer, producer, or creative technologist;
are curious about AI, disinformation, media literacy, civic engagement, or democracy;
are excited to build something playable in 48 hours;
enjoy working collaboratively and creatively in a team.

Eligibility

Participants must:

be at least 18 years old;
be resident in a Council of Europe member state or Kosovo;
be available for the full duration of the Game Jam from 4–6 December 2026;
be able to contribute actively to a team during the 48-hour development process.

What Selected Participants Receive

Selected participants will receive:

Travel to and from Cascais, Portugal
Accommodation for the duration of the event
Meals throughout the weekend
Access to mentors from the fields of game design, technology, media literacy, and democracy
The opportunity to publish their final games online for continued visibility
Certificates for all participants and awards for the winning teams
The opportunity to connect with an international network of game-makers, mentors, civic organisations, and democracy-focused partners

Do I need to be a professional game developer?

No. You do not need to be a professional game developer. What matters is your ability to contribute meaningfully to a working game prototype and your interest in using games to explore democracy, AI, and disinformation.

Do I need a team?

No. You can apply as a complete team of three to four people, or on your own – we match individual applicants with others to form teams.

Can I use AI tools?

Yes. AI tools may be used to support your work – research, structuring the project and assisting development – but the game must be designed and built by the team. Every team submits a short declaration with its game, listing which AI tools were used and for what.

What should I bring?

Your own laptop and any peripherals you work with. Everything else is provided on site.

What language is the jam in?

English.

GAMES MATTER

Europe holds 4,900 game studios and 200 game distributors. It has over 386 million players, 50% of the population between the ages of 6 to 64 play video games. This format shows the importance of designing interactive education programmes. Developing video games also means giving younger generations a voice in how our democracies must adapt to new cultural and political scenarios.