The awards' nomination portal opened on 29/1 and recently closed after a four-day extension. The system recorded over 350 nominations across 21 categories.

The submissions include domestic and international game developers, publishers, individuals, esports athletes, tournament organizers, and brands offering accessories and services for gamers. According to event organizers, this diversity reflects the comprehensive landscape of Vietnam's gaming ecosystem, which is expanding in both scale and depth. Each nomination recognizes individuals and teams who have made a mark on the industry over the past year.

iKame Global representatives receiving the globally successful Vietnamese Game award at the Vietnam Game Awards 2025. *Quynh Tran*

Following the nomination phase, the preliminary round will take place from 10/3 to 31/3. Scores for this stage will be calculated based on a 50% reader vote and 50% evaluation from the expert council.

In the final round, held from 7/4 to 21/4, the overall results will be based on 30% public vote and 70% evaluation from the expert council. Depending on the category, the three or five nominations with the highest scores from the preliminary round will advance to this stage. Separately, the "most favorite" awards are determined entirely by community votes.

Vietnam GameVerse 2025 welcomed over 40,000 visitors and participants. *Thanh Tung*

The Vietnam Game Awards 2026 ceremony is part of the Vietnam GameVerse 2026 event, scheduled for 8-9/5 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center. A notable new feature this year is the direct hosting of professional esports tournaments at the event for the first time.

Visitors can simultaneously follow three major tournaments: the Southeast Asian Nations Esports Cup, FC Mobile Invitation Cup 2026, and the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Spring 2026 National Finals. Organizers anticipate that integrating these official tournaments into the event will enhance professional quality. A dedicated meet-and-greet area is also designed for fans to interact and get autographs from top Vietnamese players.

Hai Long

The Vietnam Game Awards 2026 marks the launch of activities for the fourth season of Vietnam GameVerse. Under the theme "Do Local - Go Global", the program aims to improve human resource quality, facilitate technology transfer, and promote "Make in Vietnam" brands in the international market.

Leading up to the main festival, the Game Talks seminar series will run from February to May. The highlight will be the two-day event on 8-9/5 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (TP HCM), expected to attract over 50,000 attendees. There, the Vietnam Game Forum will connect experts with the GameVerse Wonderland exhibition space. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the Cosplay Contest and the Game Arena competition area, aiming to propel Vietnamese gaming into a pillar of the modern cultural industry.