Insight
SAE Leeds at Game Audio Symposium 2026
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SAE Supports Access and Student Opportunity at UK Game Audio Symposium 2026
SAE Institute played an active role in supporting this year’s Game Audio Symposium 2026, helping widen access to the event through sponsorship, funding tickets for SAE students from campuses across the UK, and hosting the Friday Mingle and Munch networking event at SAE Institute Leeds.
The sold-out two-day event, hosted by Leeds School of Arts, brought together students, educators, academics and professionals from across the world of game audio. SAE’s support helped create opportunities for both emerging practitioners and current students to access industry talks, meet professionals, build networks and take part in one of the key UK events dedicated to game audio.
SAE’s sponsorship of the Access Fund helped support travel and accommodation costs for people who may not otherwise have been able to attend. This contributed to the event’s aims of increasing diversity within the game audio industry and widening participation at events of this kind.
The event was organised by Dave Raybould and Richard Stevens, both highly respected figures in game audio education and practice, alongside the wider symposium team.
Exploring the Many Paths into Game Audio
One of the key themes of the event was demonstrating the wide variety of career opportunities available within game audio.
Across the two days, attendees heard talks covering sound design, dialogue, technical audio, Unreal Engine workflows, music licensing, Foley, immersive audio and audio implementation. The breadth of topics helped students understand that game audio is far more than creating sound effects, with numerous specialist roles available across the industry.
James McCormick, Programme Leader for Audio and Music at SAE, said:
“I think it helps students realise that game audio is not just one job. There are lots of different routes in, and also lots of different specialisms they might not have considered before.”
Learning from Industry Leaders
The symposium featured speakers from some of the biggest names in games, offering first-hand insight into professional workflows and career journeys.
Highlights included a talk from Paul Weir, Audio Director at Hello Games and the audio lead behind No Man’s Sky, alongside presentations from professionals working with studios including Massive Entertainment and EA. Attendees gained valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities involved in creating audio for modern games.
Building Industry Connections
Alongside the talks, networking formed a major part of the symposium experience.
SAE supported students from campuses across the UK to attend the event, enabling them to connect with industry practitioners, alumni and fellow creatives. For many students, these conversations provided invaluable advice on entering the industry and developing their careers.
James also highlighted the importance of seeing SAE alumni already working within the sector.
“It’s great for current students because they meet former SAE students who are working in game audio, and realise that they can do this too.”
SAE Leeds Hosts ‘Mingle and Munch’
As part of the wider event programme, SAE Leeds hosted Mingle and Munch, an informal networking event designed to create a relaxed and welcoming environment for attendees.
Held at the Electric Press, the event welcomed around 120 participants and provided opportunities to meet experts from different areas of game audio while enjoying food and conversation. The session was designed to make networking more accessible, particularly for students who may be attending industry events for the first time.
Start Your GAME AUDIO Career at SAE
If you’re serious about working in Game Audio, it’s not just about what you learn. It’s about what you create, how you develop your ideas, and how early you start applying them in real-world environments.
At SAE Leeds, students don’t just study Game Audio. They develop projects, showcase their work, and take their ideas into the industry.
