The nominees for the Evo Awards 2026 have been unveiled, and the public voting phase is officially live!
Last year marked a significant milestone as the Evo Awards were launched for the very first time, aimed at honoring the vibrant fighting game community while also unveiling exciting news.
As the organizers gear up for this year's Evo Awards, their commitment to involving the community shines through. Everyone now has the opportunity to influence who will be recognized on that prestigious stage.
With the nomination period concluded, the list of nominees across various categories has been published. Fans can now cast their votes for their favorite picks in multiple categories on the official Evo website. The window for voting will remain open until February 20, giving participants nearly a month to make their selections.
This year's categories encompass a wide range of topics including Best Artist, Best Character, Best Combo, Best Commentary Moment, Best Content Creator, Best Cosplay, Best Custom Controller, Best Dressed, Best Game Release, Best Local, Best Meme, Best Online Series, Best Pop Off, Best Product, Comeback of the Year, Commentator of the Year, Match of the Year, Moment of the Year, Player of the Year, and a new category called They've Got Next.
Among the nominees for Player of the Year are some prominent names: Xiao Hai, Blaz, Arslan Ash, Go1, and MenaRD. Each of these players has made notable contributions to the competitive scene, raising the stakes for this year’s award.
Previously, the event organizers announced the complete game lineups for both the main Evo and Evo Japan 2026 events, scheduled to take place in June and May respectively.
Mark your calendars! The Evo Awards 2026 is set to occur on March 28 in Los Angeles, California.
Below, you can find a closer look at some of the key award categories and their nominees:
Evo Awards 2026 Nominees
Player of the Year
• Xiao Hai
• Blaz
• Arslan Ash
• Go1
• MenaRD
Match of the Year
• Xiao Hai vs. LauYagami
• Blaz vs. Mister Crimson
• Go1 vs. ET
• Psycho vs. Blaz
• Bigblack vs. Defiant
Moment of the Year
• LauYagami winning SWC
• Mister Crimson's comeback
• Punk standing up
• MenaRD's Evo 2025 win
• KojiKOG's crashout
They've Got Next
• Hinao
• Neia
• Blaz
• Riddles
• Micky
Best Local
• Iron Grid
• 404 Esports
• RunTheMix
• King's Cup
• Rivercity Rushdown
Best Online Series
• Tampa Never Sleeps
• La Gema
• Breakout Series
• Paragonline
• Motivation Academy
Best Character
• Mai Shiranui
• Ryu
• Ekko
• Potemkin
• Armor King
Best Game Release
• Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
• Hunter x Hunter Nen Impact
• 2XKO
• Capcom Fighting Collection 2
• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Best Content Creator
• Brian_F
• SharkParty
• Rooflemonger
• Sajam
• Diaphone
Get ready to participate and support your favorites—who do you think will take home the awards this year? Will it be the familiar faces or a surprising newcomer? Join the conversation and share your thoughts!
