Nominations for UK Video Game Awards open

Nominations for the UK Video Game Awards are now open. The awards are presented to UK games companies and individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution (creative and commercial) to the UK games industry in 2026.

Please read the general eligibility criteria and the individual award criteria before submitting your nomination.

• Best UK mobile game
• Best UK PC game
• Best UK console game
• Best UK mixed reality game (VR, AR, XR)
• Best UK user generated content
• Sustainability champion
• Diversity and inclusion champion
• Best UK service supplier
• Best UK outsourcing supplier
• Best UK developer
• Best UK publisher
• Rising Star
• UK Game of the year

Eligibility criteria for each category

General eligibility criteria 

• There is no cost to nominate an entry into the Ukie UK video game awards
• Awards are open to all qualifying companies and individuals. You do not need to be a Ukie member to enter
• The awards relate to the period of 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026
• The Ukie video games awards are solely for UK games companies and individuals who work for UK games companies
• For avoidance of doubt a UK games company can be –
  • A UK independent organisation, or
  • A UK company wholly or partly owned by another UK or non-UK entity
• Games are often made as collaborations between several organisations, and across international borders. These awards are solely for games where a UK company is the lead delivery partner and delivers the majority of the work
• Anyone can nominate a company or individual (where appropriate) for an award. Companies and individuals can nominate themselves
• Only nominations processed through the official nomination channel will be considered
• UK companies and individuals can be nominated for multiple awards but a separate nomination in each category is required
• No nominations will be accepted for UK Game of the Year. Any game nominated for Best mobile, PC, console, XR or UGC will automatically be considered for UK Game of the Year

For questions on eligibility please contact [email protected]

Eligibility criteria for each award

Best UK mobile game 

This award will be presented to the UK company responsible for the best game released on a mobile device platform to UK consumers between 1 January and 31 December 2026. This award is aimed at brand new games but can also include (1) a previously released game on a different platform making its debut on this platform, (2) a significant revamp of an existing IP, (3) a substantial update or extension of an existing game, to the extent that it feels like a brand-new release (e.g. seasonal event updates do not qualify)

Best UK PC game 

This award will be presented to the UK company responsible for the best game released for Personal Computer (PC) to UK consumers between 1 January and 31 December 2026. This award is aimed at brand new games but can also include (1) a previously released game on a different platform making its debut on this platform, (2) a significant revamp of an existing IP, (3) a substantial update or extension of an existing game, to the extent that it feels like a brand-new release (e.g. seasonal event updates do not qualify)

Best UK console game 

This award will be presented to the UK company responsible for the best game released for a console format to UK consumers between 1 January and 31 December 2026. This award is aimed at brand new games but can also include (1) a previously released game on a different platform making its debut on this platform, (2) a significant revamp of an existing IP, (3) a substantial update or extension of an existing game, to the extent that it feels like a brand-new release (e.g. seasonal event updates do not qualify.

Best UK mixed reality game (VR, AR, XR)

This award will be presented to the UK company responsible for the best game released on virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality platforms and devices to UK consumers between 1 January and 31 December 2026. This award is aimed at brand new games but can also include (1) a previously released game on a different platform making its debut on this platform, (2) a significant revamp of an existing IP, (3) a substantial update or extension of an existing game, to the extent that it feels like a brand-new release (e.g. seasonal event updates do not qualify)

Best UK user-generated content creator

This award will be presented to a UK developer or creator, responsible for the best user-generated content released between 1 January and 31 December 2027. The content can be released on a UGC platform (such as Roblox, Fortnite Creative, Minecraft, Dreams etc) or be a modified (mod) version of an existing game. This developer or creator cannot be the original creator of the game or platform and must have adhered to platform guidelines, intellectual property rights and legal regulations.

Sustainability champion

This award will be presented to a UK company or individual working within the UK games industry who has demonstrated leadership, innovation, and ingenuity within the areas of sustainability and environmental impact between 1 January and 31 December 2026. The judging process will focus on the positive impact of the work undertaken.

Diversity and inclusion champion

This award will be presented to a UK company or individual working within the UK games industry who can demonstrate leadership in supporting and delivering meaningful programmes and activity to encourage diversity and inclusion within the games industry between 1 January and 31 December 2026.

Best UK service supplier

This award will be presented to a UK company who has demonstrated exemplary quality of service and support to the games industry between 1 January and 31 December 2026. Nominations will be gratefully received from companies who can demonstrate their contribution to the games industry and the companies operating within it. This award is not open to companies recognised as a developer or publisher of a game or games and is tailored towards business and professional services who have game specialism.

Best UK outsourcing supplier

This award will be presented to the UK studio who has provided exemplary service to game development businesses between 1 January and 31 December 2026. This could include work contributed to titles released in 2026 or due to be released in 2027, innovative processes or tools or commercial success. This award includes as an example: Art and animation, programming and engine work, porting and remastering, QA and testing, audio design, localisation and culturalisation, marketing/PR and co-dev full cycle support.

Best UK developer

This award will be presented to the UK developer who has delivered an amazing performance between 1 January and 31 December 2026. This could include the release of new games, support shown for existing franchises, sales and commercial performance, unique campaigns, support for initiatives such as sustainability, D&I and work-place innovation. Whatever you are proud of achieving please add to your nomination.

Best UK publisher

This award will be presented to the UK publisher who has delivered an amazing performance between 1 January and 31 December 2026. This could include the release of new games, support shown for existing franchises, sales and commercial performance, unique campaigns, support for initiatives such as sustainability, D&I and work-place innovation. Whatever you are proud of achieving please add to your nomination.

Rising Star

This award will be presented to an emerging UK company, trading between 1-5 years, who has demonstrated that they are on a path of success. Open to any UK games company this trajectory will have been demonstrated by work completed between 1 January and 31 December 2026. Such work could include unique and creative games development and publishing, commercial performance, notable expansion, leading industry initiatives, work-place innovation, the receipt of accolades and awards. If you are a UK company that is going places and set to join some of the brightest lights within the UK games industry, then this is the award for you.

UK Game of the year

All games nominated for entry into the Best mobile, PC, console and mixed reality awards will automatically be entered into this award. There is no nomination process for this award

 

Timescale and voting

• Nominations open on Friday 23rd October 2026 and close 5pm, Friday 13th November 2026
• Ukie will check all applications to ensure they meet the specified criteria and reserves the right to reject applications, without discussion, that fail to meet the criteria
• A list of final nominees for each award will be announced on Friday 20th November, at which point voting will open. Voting closes at 5pm, Friday 11th December
• Each Ukie member (currently 700 companies) will receive a voting form and can cast one vote per award. Ukie members include platforms, publishers, developers, educational institutions, and service providers and are representative of all aspects of the UK games industry
• A nominee shortlist will be announced on Friday 18th December
• Award winners will be announced at the Ukie video game awards on Thursday 11th  February 2027