Imirt and Ardán are delighted to confirm the return of the Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio. The portfolio, worth €500k, will be administered to support the Irish Digital Games Sector as it grows, and to ensure the continuation of the progress achieved in 2025.
The Portfolio fund has been designed to support the industry across the island of Ireland, from New Entrants to established developers in the sector.
Imirt and Ardán are responsible for the design, implementation and reporting of the initiatives undertaken within the fund, in cooperation with Screen Ireland. Establishing pathways for ongoing progression of the sector is at the core of the work being undertaken, and Imirt aims to give confidence to industry and creative talents on the growth of the sector.
Digital Games 2026 Roadmap
We’re delighted today to detail the roadmap for the Digital Games Portfolio - Round 2. This roadmap will give the sector information on each programme, who is administering it and when you can expect it.
Make sure to sign up for our Digital Games Portfolio 2026 Expression of Interest form to make sure that we can keep you directly informed about news on each programme you have interest in real time - https://forms.gle/KX8jb4dvtosXjcuv5
Funding Support & Talent Development
The Portfolio can be broken down into two unique kinds of funding. Imirt are responsible for Games Funding, while our partners at Ardán are responsible for Talent Development. The entire fund is a collaborative effort, but one of our key efforts this year is to make it incredibly clear where to go for which support and how to avail of that funding, training, and or mentorship.
Read more about each individual strand of funding and talent development below;
Irish Games Fund (Imirt)
Irish Games Fund returns, refined based upon all of the excellent feedback received from 2025. Irish Games Fund will consist of three unique strands, designed to create opportunities for game creators at all stages of their journey.
These strands, developed to allow Irish studios developing original IP to access funding , include our returning Development Fund of up to €50K per team, alongside prototype funding of €12K per team. We also have a brand new Release Fund for games that are ready to launch coming in the near future.
More information on the Irish Games Fund strands will be announced later this year. We’re currently focused on the Development Fund, which will go live in the coming weeks.
Irish Games Fund - Development Fund (Imirt)
Irish Games Fund - Development Fund supports up to four teams with €50,000 in funding to further development on validated concepts and prototypes that are progressing toward production and commercial release.
The fund enables recipients to:
Advance game development
Improve project quality and production planning
Build market-ready project materials
Prepare for publishing and investment opportunities
Irish Games Fund - Development Fund launches soon.
Talent Development (Ardán)
Talent Development is an expansion on the work done last year with the Irish Games Talent Incubator and Sparks, focusing on professional development, skills acquisition, and industry readiness for individuals building careers in games.
Talent Development consists of multiple distinct but complementary initiatives. The Irish Games Talent Incubator returns, reaching more people through remote-delivery with built in networking opportunities. Alongside new EDI initiatives developed in collaboration with specialist partner organisations. Finally, we have a Pitching Programme designed to meet the needs of all developers in the ever changing funding landscape.
More information on the pitching programme and DEI initiatives will be announced later this year. We’re currently focused on the Irish Games Talent Incubator, applications for which open in the next week.
Irish Games Talent Incubator (Ardán)
The Irish Games Talent Incubator returns for 2026, revamped to meet the needs of new entrants in the sector. The Irish Games Talent Incubator is an 8-week long programme which will offer participants workshops covering key industry skills, individual mentorship from industry peers in your specialised field, facilitated peer-learning and networking opportunities throughout the programme and a final showcase and networking opportunity in person.
The Irish Games Talent Incubator launches soon.
Keep an eye on Ardán and Imirt social media platforms & newsletters for more information on the initiatives that Imirt and Ardán will be developing throughout 2026 and into 2027.