JESU to stream Japan Esports Awards 2026 with TV Tokyo

The Japan Esports Association will hold the Japan Esports Awards 2026 on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027, with TV Tokyo producing the ceremony as a streaming-based entertainment programme. The event will not have a physical venue, unlike previous editions.

The awards will recognise players, organisers, tournaments, casters and other individuals and organisations that contributed to Japan’s esports industry during 2026.

Fans will help determine winners in several categories. The Esports Player category will recognise players who performed well across different game genres. Live Entertainment will cover tournaments and casters that attracted live audiences. The Esports Organiser category will recognise teams and game titles that had a notable effect on Japan’s esports scene during the year.

The highest-profile award is the Annual Esports Player of the Year, also known as the MVP award. JESU will select the winner from players who delivered outstanding performances in their respective game genres. Winners in all categories will be announced during the Feb. 13 ceremony.

JESU has also announced JAPAN GAMES ESPORTS, an independent national competition scheduled for January through March 2028.

The association is due to hold the National Prefectural eSports Championship 2026 Online – Road to the NEXT on Dec. 12–13, 2026. The online event will feature eFootball, Gran Turismo 7 and Puzzle & Dragons, along with an exhibition match in Puyo Puyo eSports.

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Reviewed and fact-checked by Alex Panasenko on November 10.