The Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) was vibrant and bustling as thousands of gamers, cosplayers, and guests converged for the Vietnam Game Awards 2026 gala. This event was part of the Vietnam GameVerse 2026 festival. LED lights, game advertisements on screens, and electronic music created a festive atmosphere.

The awards ceremony was followed by musical performances. Around 20h15, the atmosphere in the SECC auditorium intensified as the MC introduced Uprize, a seven-member music group that emerged from the "Tan binh toan nang" (Show It All) competition. Over 2,000 spectators stood, raising banners and lightsticks, chanting the names of the artists.

The group performed "Thunder," their debut dance-hip hop track released earlier this year.

The choreography featured sharp, impactful movements. Uprize members alternated in the center position, showcasing their dance skills and individual styles. During the climax, their synchronized formation movements were seamless.

The members stated that Vietnam GameVerse was a valuable opportunity to meet their audience. From left: Phuc Nguyen, Cuong Bach, Duy Lan, Lam Anh, and Duc Duy.

Many spectators chanted Lam Anh's name, praising his growing maturity in vocals, dance, and style. Nguyen Lam Anh (Lavn), 21, studies at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. During "Show It All," coaches complimented his good looks but noted his control was somewhat lacking, making him prone to losing momentum at climaxes and appearing stiff in choreography, sometimes struggling to keep pace with the group's formation. Based on this feedback, the singer has worked to improve his performance skills.

Before leaving the stage, the seven members wished the gaming community continued health and faith to develop and expand the game industry. Thousands cheered as Duc Duy, Wonbi, Phuc Nguyen, Cuong Bach, Duy Lan, Lam Anh, and Long Hoang (from left to right) bowed in gratitude to the audience.

The reality show "Tan binh toan nang" (Show It All) aims to develop professional artists, similar to the K-Pop training system. Throughout the competition, the group released many popular songs such as "Ma dao thanh cong," "Beautiful Girl," "Exposure," and "Real Talk."

After performing as a seven-member group, Uprize released singles to establish their unique identity in the Vpop market. For example, "Thunder" was chosen as the theme song for the "Dau Truong Sam" concert. Their tracks "Mo giua ban ngay" (at Gala Nhac Viet) and "Take U Home Tonight" also received significant praise.

The awards ceremony began at 19h40, with rapper ICD energizing the stage with the Vietnam GameVerse theme song, which he composed as a gift to the program and the gaming community. With inspiring lyrics, a positive spirit, and a fast, dynamic rhythm, ICD expressed his desire to convey a message about the Vietnamese game industry's journey to overcome limitations and gradually reach the global market.

ICD's performance stage was elaborately designed with a vibrant, colorful backdrop, continuously changing light effects to the beat. Against a backdrop of dynamic visuals, many legendary game titles appeared, evoking familiar memories for the gaming community and showcasing the development of the Vietnamese game industry. The combination of fast tempo, modern visual effects, and iconic game imagery made the performance energetic and engaging. Many young spectators remarked that ICD not only energized the atmosphere with catchy melodies but also helped them revisit the "stream of memories" of Vietnamese games, from familiar milestones to global aspirations.

Concluding his performance, ICD expressed gratitude to game developers and the gaming community. Below the stage, thousands of spectators swayed to the dynamic bass, dancing and raising their hands to the artist's every beat. Rapper ICD, whose real name is Pham Ngoc Huy, 30, won "King of Rap 2020." After the rap competition, he consistently released works such as "Tai san cua bo," "Goodbye," "Rapper so 1," "Chan cham dat," and various collaborations with other artists.

My My, a prominent vocalist from the show "Em xinh say hi," captivated the audience with "Khong ai khac ngoai em." Her performance included many dynamic break dance segments, creating space for the singer to showcase eye-catching, energetic choreography.

With her hit song "Cach yeu dung dieu," the singer delivered an energetic performance. She frequently extended the microphone towards the audience, inviting fans to sing along, transforming the segment into a collective chorus.

My My, whose real name is Vu Thi Ngan My, is 29. She began her career as a dancer in the Buoc Nhay dance troupe. With a strong dance background, she excelled in the show "Em xinh say hi," with million-view performances like "Dong dao xinh gai" and "Khong dau nua roi."

Following the program, Negav performed two YouTube hits: "Da nghi" (8 million views) and "Minh anh thoi" (16 million views). As the first notes resonated, the atmosphere in the auditorium grew hotter, with cheers echoing throughout the venue. The performance also evoked many memories with its theme inspired by the game "Audition - Nhip dieu cuoc song."

Below the stage, rows of fans simultaneously held up banners, raised lightsticks, and continuously called out Negav's name. As the performance continued, the cheers grew louder, nearly overpowering the background music.

The singer went into the audience to interact and invite fans to sing along, increasing the performance's engagement.

The singer excited the audience by taking off his jacket on stage.

Negav, whose real name is Dang Thanh An, is 24. He has had many hits, including "Ngu mot minh" (2022, featuring Hieu Thu Hai), "Cham soc em" (2023), and "Em khien anh muon tro thanh nguoi Ha Noi" (2023). Participating in the first season of "Anh trai say hi," the rapper delivered notable performances such as "Ngan nga," "Catch Me If You Can," and "Da nghi."

Vietnam GameVerse 2026 opened at 8h on 8/5 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring a series of activities including Game Expo, Wonderland, a B2B area, and Esports tournaments. This year, the event brought together over 100 booths, with support from many companies in the gaming, technology, and payment sectors such as Garena, VNGGames, Funtap Games, Gamota, Google, MoMo, Monster Energy, FPT, and Be.

According to statistics up to 19h, the first day of Vietnam GameVerse, with its forums, exhibition booths, game competitions, and cosplayer interactions, welcomed a total of 16,000 attendees, demonstrating the event's popularity.

The second day, held on the weekend, featured Esports tournaments and the Cosplay Contest, which were expected to further boost excitement. Organizers projected the event could attract around 40,000 people.

Hieu Chau

Photos: Quynh Tran, Duc Dong, Hieu Luong