Following the success of the 21st BAFTA Games Awards earlier this year, BAFTA today opens entries for the 2026 edition, with key dates, updated entry requirements and voting rules confirmed today.

The BAFTA Games Awards celebrate the very best games of the past year and the talent who make them and recognise the outstanding creativity and technical achievements of individuals and teams working in games every year.

Unlike other industry awards, the BAFTA Games Awards are voted for by an expert membership of over 1,400 experienced professionals and are watched by millions online. Content from the 21st BAFTA Games Awards on 8 April 2025 achieved over five million views (and an additional 2.2 million views across the awards season), in a ceremony that saw Astro Bot take home five BAFTAs including Best Game, Still Wakes the Deep take home three and Thank Goodness You’re Here! crowned Best British Game.

A cross-industry BAFTA Games committee reviews the awards’ eligibility criteria, voting and campaigning rules annually to ensure they are robust and fair, and that they evolve with the ever-changing industry landscape.

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Key changes for 2026 include:

Voting

• As our membership grows, we are creating more craft chapters for voting, bringing it more in line with our Film Awards. Thanks to the growing expertise of our games voting membership, members with craft experience in art, audio and performance roles will now vote in Round One of the Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, and both Performance categories. Previously, the full BAFTA Games membership voted in these categories in Round One.

Key dates, announced today are as follows:

• Monday 11 August 2025: Entries open
• Thursday 6 November 2025: Entries close
• Tuesday 9 December 2025: Longlist revealed
• Thursday 12 March 2026: Nominations announced
• Friday 17 April 2026: Ceremony

Tara Saunders, chair of the BAFTA Games Committee, said: “It’s always a special moment when the entries open for the BAFTA Games Awards. Reflecting on the success of the last awards and all the amazing games celebrated, it spotlighted to me the incredible resilience, collaboration, and creative brilliance across the games industry. As games continue to explore storytelling, design, and innovation, BAFTA’s is here to champion the teams and individuals whose talent and dedication deliver extraordinary experiences to players around the world. With this year’s updates to rules and voting, we’re continuing to evolve how we recognise excellence across every corner of the industry. I’m excited to see all the brilliant work that will get celebrated in 2026.”

Entry is open to all developers and publishers for games released between 16 November 2024 and 14 November 2025, with an entry deadline of Thursday 6 November 2025.

Entry Information 

BAFTA is calling for all developers to register games into the Awards within 30 days of a game’s release. This allows BAFTA’s voting members – experts from all across the games industry – enough time to discover and play all games entered in the awards ahead of voting, levelling the playing field across a wide range of games.

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Any developer, publisher or studio that has released a game since 16 November 2024 is encouraged to register it into the Awards by 11 September 2025 to benefit from half-price entry fees. The discounted rate is also available to entrants registering their games within 30 days of release in future.

Only basic details are required to register a game into the awards, within 30 days of release. Entry is half price (£220 + VAT) within that period. The standard entry fee is £440 +VAT. Full entry details will then need to be submitted by Thursday 6 November 2025 to finalise the entry.

Adding yet another feather to her illustrious cap, Nikita Luther, India’s first female World Series of Poker (WSOP) Gold champion, has been awarded with the Shakti Award at the We Women Want Conclave 2025. The event, held on August 7 in New Delhi at The Imperial Hotel, saw her being felicitated by Shri Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, for ‘Excellence in Gaming’ and her pioneering contributions to India’s poker landscape.

Speaking on her award, Nikita Luther, Brand Ambassador and Business Consultant – Natural8 India, said, “This award recognises my journey in the global poker landscape, and this moment is a reminder that the path I chose, though tough, was worth every bit of effort and sweat. While I am delighted to be seen as a role model for other women looking to break into conventionally male-dominated fields, this recognition makes me even more determined to keep raising the standards that I have been held to. I hope others find their own trials not as burdens but as invitations to grow, evolve, and create something meaningful. I would like to thank the NewsX team and their Senior Editor, Uday Pratap Singh, for organising such an engaging, uplifting event.”

Kunal Patni, Executive Director & Country Head of Natural8 India, added, “Nikita’s recognition with the Shakti Award is thoroughly deserved. She continues to be a powerful advocate for poker as a skill-based sport and an inspiration for women across India’s gaming and business landscapes. This award acknowledges not just her exceptional talent at the poker table, but her role in transforming perceptions about professional gaming in our country.”

The We Women Want Conclave 2025, organised by NewsX, is an extension of the platform’s acclaimed weekly programme that champions women’s issues and celebrates female achievement. The show has become a vital support network that addresses everything from workplace equality and domestic violence to health awareness and career advancement, featuring prominent figures including politicians like Smriti Irani and Bollywood stars such as Shabana Azmi and Taapsee Pannu. The conclave brings together influential women leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to celebrate the achievements of women and discuss pathways for continued progress in gender equality across industries. The Shakti Awards are given to women who have demonstrated exceptional excellence and leadership in their respective fields, celebrating their contributions to breaking barriers and inspiring others.

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Nikita’s recognition comes at a time when the Indian gaming industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with her pioneering success serving as a beacon for aspiring female professionals in the sector.

The inaugural season of the iQOO Battlegrounds Series concluded with Team Orangutan securing first place and a record-breaking lead of 61 points, lifting the championship trophy after three days of intense Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) action at the LAN finale. Held from August 8 to 10 at the Noida Indoor Stadium, the event featured a massive INR 1 crore prize pool and drew thousands of fans on-ground. For the first time, Orangutan claimed the BGMI championship title, marking a historic moment for the team and its supporters.

Executed by NODWIN Gaming and powered by iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand, the tournament began on July 21 with 32 teams. Thirty squads (teams) were invited squads and two teams qualified through the iQOO Community Cup after a rigorous qualifier stage. From the group stage, the top eight teams from the overall standings went straight to the Grand Finals, while the remaining 24 competed in the Semi Finals. Eight more teams advanced from there, completing the 16-team LAN finals lineup.

Across the 18 matches played at the LAN, Orangutan emerged as champions with 217 points, securing INR 55 lakh from the prize pool. Meta Ninza finished second with 156 points, followed by K9 Esports in third with 121 points. Orangutan’s Ankit Shukla (AKop) was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his stellar showing, amassing 62 finishes in the finals.

Arman aka Aaru, IGL of Orangutan, said, “Four years ago, it was just a dream. Today, it’s in our hands. Every setback, every close call, every tough day only made us stronger. We never gave up, and that made all the difference.”

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Fans at the venue were also treated to special meet-and-greet sessions with some of India’s most popular gaming creators from S8UL and Revenant XSpark, including Naman Mathur (Mortal), Raj Varma (Snax), Gulrez Khan (JokerKiHaveli), Payal Dhare (PayalGaming), Kaashvi Hiranandani (KaashPlays), and Tanmay Singh (ScoutOP).

Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO, commented, “At iQOO, we believe the future of gaming lies in creating meaningful opportunities for the esports community. The iQOO Battlegrounds Series is our flagship gaming IP, bringing India’s best teams to the grand stage. My heartfelt congratulations to iQOO Orangutan for their exceptional win, and to Meta Ninza and K9 Esports for their spirited performance. We’re proud to provide a platform that celebrates skill, passion, and ambition, driving India’s esports ecosystem to new heights.”

The iQOO Battlegrounds Series is the brand’s flagship esports property, designed to showcase top-tier BGMI talent while nurturing the next generation of competitive gamers. Since its inception in 2020, iQOO has been committed to supporting esports, and the first season of this tournament further reinforces that commitment.

Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming, added, “The iQOO Battlegrounds Series is a perfect example of performance-driven innovation meeting grassroots talent and world-class tournament execution. Congratulations to Orangutan on a well-deserved victory, and kudos to all teams for showcasing the competitive spirit that defines India’s esports scene. With partners like iQOO, our mission is to keep raising the bar, and taking Indian esports to stages that resonate globally.”

The success of the inaugural season sets the stage for the iQOO Battlegrounds Series to become a mainstay in India’s esports calendar, offering a professional platform for players to compete, grow, and make their mark on the global stage.

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