This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Games and Learning Alliance, GALA 2026 Doctoral Symposium and Work in Progress, held in L'Aquila, Italy, during November 17–20, 2026.

The 29 Work in Progress and 12 PhD Symposium papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 85 submissions. They reflect the breadth and diversity of contemporary research on games and learning highlighting the growing impact of games and playful technologies across educational, social, and professional contexts.