The premier esports award, the Esports Awards, has selected Miami, Florida, as the host city for this year's ceremony, which will take place in November. The event will be held in the city for the first time, relocating from Las Vegas, where the 2025 edition took place.
The awards are organized in partnership with the Esports World Cup (supported by the Esports Foundation) and the Oakley brand. The event will gather international executives, content creators, and esports organizations, supported by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The organizers have already unveiled the first wave of finalists in the B2B and institutional categories, recognizing enterprise performance across commercial partnerships, tournament operations, and content creation:
- Esports Commercial Partner of the Year: Blacklyte, Chipotle, Coinbase, Intel, iQOO, Logitech G, Monster Energy, Pulsar, Razer, Red Bull, Sony INZONE.
- Esports Tournament Organizer of the Year: Activision Blizzard, BLAST, EFG (ESL FACEIT Group), Esports Foundation, EVO, Hero Esports, MOONTON Games, Riot Games, TiMi Studio Group.
- Esports Supporting Service of the Year: Character Select Agency, ESG Law, Esports Charts, FACEIT, GRID Esports, JAM Management, Liquipedia, Odin Law and Media, Prodigy Agency, Shikenso Analytics, The Story Mob.
- Esports Content Group of the Year: 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, Gentle Mates, GodLike Esports, Karmine Corp, NRG, OpTic Gaming, Rocket Baguette, S8UL Esports, T1, Team Spirit, Team Vitality.
Public voting is already open and will run through November 10. To boost fan engagement ahead of the live broadcast from Miami, the organizers have announced a "Turbo Week" initiative. It will run from November 3 to November 10, during which every cast vote will carry double weight.
Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, emphasized that the organizers are thrilled to bring the flagship ceremony to sunny Miami, calling the city the ultimate stage for a world-class celebration. David Whitaker, President and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, added that the esports community embodies innovation and creativity, which perfectly reflect the spirit of the destination.
Ahead of the host city announcement, important commercial changes took place. GameSquare Holdings entered into a partnership agreement with MEGA Advanced Ltd., the operator and parent company of the Esports Awards. GameSquare will take over the management of commercial sales, sponsorship procurement, and brand partnerships.
It was also revealed that the Esports Awards is collaborating with The Esports Radar platform. Together, they will organize an exclusive networking event for top executives in the global gaming industry—Esports Leaders. This event is set to take place on August 21, 2026, in central Paris.
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