The Vietnam Game Awards 2026 ceremony is scheduled for 8/5 in Ho Chi Minh City, as part of Vietnam GameVerse 2026. Taking place over two days, 8-9/5, Vietnam GameVerse 2026 is themed "Do Local - Go Global", aiming to enhance human resource quality, facilitate technology transfer, and promote the "Make in Vietnam" brand globally.

Negav, born Dang Thanh An in 2001, is an influential young artist in Vietnam's rap and hip-hop scene. He began as the youngest member of the Gerdnang group, alongside Hieuthuhai and Hurrykng. Negav's career features hits like: 'Ngu mot minh' (2022, with Hieuthuhai), 'Cham soc em' (2023), and 'Em khien anh muon tro thanh nguoi Ha Noi' (2023). He won the second season of the "Anh trai say hi" program, beating 29 contestants.

Rapper Negav won the second season of 'Anh trai say hi'. *Photo: VieON*

While Negav embodies a modern style, rapper ICD, born Pham Ngoc Huy in 1996, focuses on lyrical depth. He is known for his association with the 704 crew and rose to prominence after winning "King of Rap 2020". Following his victory, ICD released a series of distinctive tracks such as: 'Tai san cua bo', 'Goodbye', 'Rapper so 1', 'Chan cham dat', and collaborations with notable artists.

My My, born Vu Thi Ngan My, 29 years old, presents a versatile artist image with a professional dance background. She began her career as a dancer in the renowned Buoc Nhay dance troupe. With her professional dance foundation, she shined on the show "Em xinh say hi" with many million-view performances including: 'Dong dao xinh gai', 'Khong dau nua roi', and 'Cach (yeu dung) dieu'. Previously, she released tracks such as: 'Say anh', 'Anh chang thoat duoc dau', and 'Em chi muon duoc chill'. Her song 'Khong ai khac ngoai em' became a TikTok sensation, accumulating over 11 million views on YouTube.

Rapper ICD. *Photo: NVCC*

The event also features rookie group Uprize, composed of seven members: Cuong Bach, Phuc Nguyen, Lam Anh, Duc Duy, Wonbi, Duy Lan, and Long Hoang. Emerging from the reality show "Tan binh toan nang" (Show It All), the group aims to develop under a professional artist training model similar to the K-Pop system. During the competition, the group delivered many high-view performances, notably: 'Ma dao thanh cong', 'Beautiful Girl', 'Exposure', and 'Real Talk'. After officially launching as a seven-member group, Uprize released singles to establish their unique identity in the V-pop market. Their notable track 'Thunder' (released early 2026) was chosen as the theme song for the "Dau Truong Sam" concert. Other productions, such as 'Mo giua ban ngay' (performed at Gala Nhac Viet) and 'Take U Home Tonight', also demonstrate meticulous sound production investment.

The event features several activities: expert dialogue forums, the Wonderland exhibition space, cosplay competitions, and professional Esports tournaments. This year, organizers anticipate over 50,000 attendees and are expanding the B2B (business-to-business) and independent game developer areas.

The program is co-organized by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, VnExpress newspaper, and the Vietnam Game Alliance.

By Anh Duong

Vietnam GameVerse, held on 8-9/5, offers two ticket categories: a one-day pass for 50,000 VND and a two-day combo for 79,000 VND. Tickets grant access to the entire event space at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), including: Game Expo, Wonderland, the B2B area, Esports tournaments, fan meetings, and the main stage. Readers can find detailed rules and purchase tickets here.