On September 8, 2026, the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) announced detailed information for the 30th Japan Game Awards 2026, while revealing that the Game Designers Award will draw to a close with its 17th edition this year.
The Game Designers Award was established in 2010 at the 14th Japan Game Awards upon a proposal by Masahiro Sakurai. Moving away from commercial sales or trend-oriented general voting, it was created to discover titles possessing exceptional creativity and innovation from a developer's perspective. Over the past 16 years, top creators have evaluated original games from a professional standpoint, and its role will draw to a close with this 17th ceremony.
The 11 judges for this year's Game Designers Award 2026 have also been finalized. Led by Jury Chairman Masahiro Sakurai of Sora, the panel includes Professor Kazutoshi Iida of Ritsumeikan University College of Image Arts and Sciences, Storytelling CEO Jiro Ishii, gen-DESIGN CEO Fumito Ueda, Clovers Studio Head Hideki Kamiya, and Too Kyo Games CEO Kazutaka Kodaka. Additionally, Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi Suda, indie game creator Toby Fox, Bokeh Game Studio CEO Keiichiro Toyama, UNBOUND CEO Shinji Mikami, and BUKORO CEO Yoko Taro were named to the judging panel.
The judging panel consists of industry masters who have left a distinct mark on gaming history. Beginning with Jury Chairman Masahiro Sakurai, who developed the Kirby series and Super Smash Bros. series, the evaluation will be carefully conducted by Kazutoshi Iida, director of Aquanaut's Holiday and Anagura no Uta: Kieta Hakase to Nokosareta Souchi, and Jiro Ishii, who presented 3-Nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei: Densetsu no Kyoudan ni Tatsu!, 428: Shibuya Scramble, Time Travelers, and Bungo and Alchemist. Joining them are Fumito Ueda of ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian; Hideki Kamiya, creator of Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, Okami, the Bayonetta series, The Wonderful 101, and Sol Cresta; and Kazutaka Kodaka of The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- and the Danganronpa series. Goichi Suda of The Silver Case series, killer7, the No More Heroes series, and ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN; Toby Fox of UNDERTALE and DELTARUNE; Keiichiro Toyama of Silent Hill, the Siren series, the Gravity Rush (GRAVITY DAZE) series, and Slitterhead; Shinji Mikami of Aladdin, God Hand, Resident Evil, and The Evil Within; and Yoko Taro of the Drakengard series, the NieR series, and SINoALICE will also lend their expertise to select the finest works.
The Japan Game Awards 2026 Games of the Year Division awards ceremony will be held at Hulic Hall Tokyo starting at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 15, two days prior to the opening of Tokyo Game Show 2026 (TGS2026). Sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the on-site event will feature special guests Toshiya Miyata of Kis-My-Ft2 (an official TGS2026 supporter) and pianist Harami-chan on stage. Miyata will participate as the Grand Prize presenter to share his thoughts, while Harami-chan will deliver a live performance at the moment of the Grand Prize announcement to further heat up the atmosphere. Jury Chairman Masahiro Sakurai will also take the stage in person as a presenter to announce the Game Designers Award and highlight the winning title's appeal.
The Future Division awards ceremony, which honors unreleased upcoming games, will take place at 1:00 PM on Sunday, September 20, on the Event Stage in Makuhari Messe Hall 1 during TGS2026. Public voting for the Future Division will be open online from 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 17, to 4:00 PM on Saturday, September 19. Eligible entries include unreleased game titles, video submissions, and hardware announced or exhibited at TGS2026 from September 17 through September 21, excluding titles announced after 4:00 PM on September 19. CESA plans to award game software and original merchandise of the Future Division winners to a total of 200 voters selected via a lottery. All ceremonies will be broadcast live for free on the official website and YouTube Live.
