Esports Awards sets 2026 ceremony at Miami arts center

The Esports Awards will hold its 2026 ceremony at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in downtown Miami on Nov. 17, 2026. The event will bring together professional players, teams, publishers, content creators and business leaders from the global esports industry.

Formally titled the Esports Awards Presented by Thunderpick, the ceremony will be part of a multi-day programme at the venue. Other events will include the PWR UP B2B Conference, the Lifetime Achievement Mixer and the Esports Awards Invitational.

In a statement, Michael Ashford, chief executive of the Esports Awards, said Miami would give the organisation’s global community a place to meet and recognise players, teams, creators and industry figures from the past year.

Johann Zietsman, president and chief executive of the Adrienne Arsht Center, said the venue looked forward to hosting an event focused on talent, creativity and achievement in gaming and esports.

The venue announcement follows changes to the awards’ commercial partnerships. Esports betting platform Thunderpick has a 12-month agreement running through 2027 as the event’s presenting partner and official iGaming partner.

Digital media company Hotspawn will be the presenting partner for the PWR UP B2B Conference, the Lifetime Achievement Mixer and the Esports Awards Invitational. It will also be an official media partner. Other partners are the Esports Foundation, eyewear company Oakley, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Miami Downtown Development Authority.

The Adrienne Arsht Center is one of the largest performing arts venues in the United States. Its programme usually includes Broadway productions, classical performances and regional theatre.

Public voting for the 2026 Esports Awards categories is open until Nov. 10 on the event’s official platform. During the final voting period, known as “Turbo Week,” from Nov. 3 through Nov. 10, fan votes will count twice toward the final category results.

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