Japan Game Awards 2026 has officially opened public voting for the category Games of the Year Category Starting June 12, 2026. Voting is open to everyone, including players outside Japan, but the prize draw is only available to residents living in Japan.
Voting will remain open until July 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. JST. After that, the selection committee will review the voting results to determine the winners of the Grand Award, the Awards for Excellence, and other awards.
Japan Game Awards 2026 Opens Voting to All Players
Category Games of the Year Category The 2026 Japan Game Awards is aimed at game that are considered most representative of the past year. Eligible titles are games released in Japan between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026.
The platform coverage is extensive, ranging from home consoles, handhelds, and PCs to smartphones. Japanese localized versions of foreign games are also included in the evaluation.
The organizers state that this vote is open to everyone, regardless of gender, age, nationality, location, gaming experience, or game ownership. This means that players outside of Japan can still participate. However, each person is allowed to cast only one vote per title.
How to Vote in the 2026 Japan Game Awards
There are two ways to vote in the 2026 Japan Game Awards. The first option is online via Official Japan Game Awards website, which can be accessed from a smartphone or a PC.
The second option is by postcard. Full details on this method are available at Postcard Voting Guide Page.
The deadline for voting for both methods is July 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. JST.
Prize Draw
It is important to note, especially for international readers, that there is a difference between voting rights and prize eligibility. Voting is open to everyone, but prize eligibility is limited to residents of Japan, and prize shipments are restricted to addresses in Japan.
The prizes prepared this year include several courses, namely:
Course A
- PlayStation 5 Pro: 3 winners
- Japan-exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 models: 3 winners
- Xbox Series X: 3 winners
- The unit color cannot be selected
Course B
- An Apple Gift Card or Google Play Gift Card worth 10,000 yen: 20 winners in total
Course C
- category-winning software Games of the Year Category or related merchandise: 100 winners in total
Course D
- admission ticket Tokyo Game Show 2026
- Valid for a one-day visit on one of the public days: September 19, 20, or 21, 2026
Course E
- An exclusive invitation to the 2026 Japan Game Awards ceremony
- Valid for the event on September 15, 2026, starting at 6:00 p.m. JST
The organizing committee also noted that there were approximately 350 prize winners. The winners will not be announced publicly, as the delivery of the prizes will serve as notification.
The Awards Ceremony Will Be Held in September
Once the voting period ends, the results will be reviewed by the Japan Game Awards selection committee. Based on that review, the committee will select the winners of the Grand Award, the Awards for Excellence, and other awards in each category Games of the Year Category.
Award ceremony Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Award and Games of the Year Category is scheduled to take place on September 15, 2026, at Hulic Hall in Tokyo.
About the Japan Game Awards
The Japan Game Awards is an awards ceremony that highlights the most outstanding game titles from a specific period. For the category Games of the Year Category, public voting is an important part of the process, but the final result is still determined by the committee’s selection process.
At the 2025 Japan Game Awards, the Grand Award in this category was won by Metaphor: ReFantazio from ATLUS. Last year’s list of winners also included other titles such as Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
With voting now open, all eyes are on which title will emerge as this year’s grand prize winner. The final results will be announced at the awards ceremony this coming September.
