Japan’s Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association has announced full details for the 2026 Japan Game Awards, honouring game titles that best represent the past year.
Marking the 30th presentation of the awards, the Japan Game Awards 2026 Games of the Year awards ceremony will be held on September 15, while the Future Division awards ceremony will take place on September 20. Both ceremonies will be free to watch online.
Game Designers Award Concludes with Its Final Presentation
Established in 2010 by Masahiro Sakurai, the Game Designers Award recognises titles that are highly creative and innovative, evaluated beyond the usual metrics of sales performance and popular trends. The award will conclude its role following its 17th and final presentation at the Japan Game Awards 2026.
Eleven prestigious judges have been selected to evaluate the final Game Designers Award:
- Kazutoshi Iida: Professor at Ritsumeikan University, best known for Aquanaut’s Holiday, Anagura no Uta, Kieta Hakase to Nokosareta Sochi
- Jiro Ishii: Representative of Storytelling Inc., best known for 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi Sensei: Densetsu no Kyodan ni Tate!, 428: Shibuya Scramble, Time Travelers
- Fumito Ueda: Game Designer at genDESIGN Inc., best known for ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian
- Hideki Kamiya: Studio Head and Game Designer at CLOVERS Inc., best known for Devil May Cry, Okami, and Bayonetta
- Kazutaka Kodaka: Representative of Too Kyo Games, best known for The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- and the Danganronpa series
- Masahiro Sakurai: Representative of Sora Ltd., best known for the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series
- Goichi Suda: CEO and Game Designer at Grasshopper Manufacture Inc., best known for NO MORE HEROES and ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN
- Toby Fox: Indie game creator, best known for UNDERTALE and DELTARUNE
- Keiichiro Toyama: Director and CEO of Bokeh Game Studio Inc., best known for Silent Hill, Gravity Rush, and Slitterhead
- Shinji Mikami: Representative of UNBOUND INC., best known for Resident Evil and The Evil Within
- Yoko Taro: Director at Bukkoro Co., Ltd., best known for the Drakengard and NieR series
Online Public Voting for Future Division Awards Opens on September 17
Voting for the Future Division will be conducted from September 17 to September 19, available through the official Japan Game Awards 2026 Future Division website. The awards will honour unreleased works presented and exhibited at Tokyo Game Show 2026.
A total of 200 lucky voters will also recieve l receive game software or original merchandise related to titles honoured in the Japan Game Awards Future Division. Prizes will be shipped after the winning title has been released.
How to Watch
- Official Japan Game Awards website: https://awards.cesa.or.jp/
*From the top-page menu, select the awards ceremony details banner.
- Official Tokyo Game Show website: https://tgs.cesa.or.jp/jp
*From the top-page menu, select Content > Official Programs, then choose the relevant Japan Game Awards program.
