Games Done Quick’s Back to Black 2026 Event Starts Today

With all the chaos going on in the world, I have been trying to focus on at least one good thing a day. Today, that good thing is an event that will benefit marginalized communities, which need help now more than ever. I wrote about Games Done Quick earlier in January, but their next event is worth highlighting.

Today begins Games Done Quick’s Back to Black 2026 event, benefitting Race Forward. Here is what the press release says about the announcement:

“Games Done Quick’s speedrunning event[,] organized by the Black in a Flash community, will run its online event February 5-8, with the entire event broadcast on Games Done Quick’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.

Returning during the first week of Black History Month, Back to Black 2026 will spotlight Black speedrunners as they race through games, complete zany challenges, and more. This year’s event supports Race Forward, a nonprofit that works across communities most affected by systemic racism to build collective power for racial equity. Last year’s Back to Black event raised $44,000 for Race Forward.

The 2026 event will feature nostalgic classics and recent releases, such as Donkey Kong Country, Hades 2, Cuphead, Silent Hill 4, and many more. You can browse the full schedule here.”

For the uninitiated, Games Done Quick is an organization that gathers high-level gameplay speedrunners for charity events. They also spotlight speedrunning communities on their Twitch channel through various events throughout the week. Games Done Quick has become a small piece of light for me recently since they focus on charities that benefit marginalized communities, Doctors Without Borders, Cancer treatment organizations, and other important organizations.

With Black History Month getting underway, the Black in a Flash community will no doubt have plenty of things to showcase. I’ll be tuning in all weekend, and if you miss the event, you can also check out the VODs via YouTube.