Game Awards 2026 Jury: U.S. and U.K. Tie at 17 Outlets

The Game Awards has revealed the composition of its 2026 jury, with U.S. outlets falling to 17 and the U.K. drawing level at 17 for the first time, according to Polygon. The shift marks a change from previous years, when American outlets held a larger share of votes.

The 2026 jury also includes 14 votes from Brazil, up four outlets, and three votes from China. Latin American countries now make up around 21% of the jury. Mainland Europe accounts for 27% of the jury, compared with 28% for English-language media.

Seven outlets have left the jury: Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Inverse, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, Wirecutter and Wired. The Game Awards also confirmed its eligibility cutoff date, under which Grand Theft Auto 6 qualifies.

In 2024 and 2025, American outlets held just 24 seats on a jury of more than 130, and the U.S. previously had at least 10 more jury votes than any other nation. The Game Awards began in 2014 and has expanded and internationalized its jury since then.

Between 2014 and 2020, American games won Game of the Year at The Game Awards four times out of seven. Since 2020, no American game has won the top prize, with winners from Sweden, Belgium, France and Japan (twice). Last year the jury grew more internationally diverse while indie representation in nominations shrank.