Esports Awards 2026 Nominees Put Counter-Strike, Dota 2 and Valorant Stars in the Spotlight
The Esports Awards have announced the latest group of nominees for the 2026 edition, bringing together some of the most visible players and organisations from Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant and other major competitive games.
The ceremony is scheduled for November 17 in Miami, Florida, with the final voting period continuing into November.
The nominations provide an overview of the players, teams and personalities that have attracted significant attention across the esports industry during 2026.
ZywOo, donk and Yatoro among the leading names
The PC Player of the Year category includes Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets and Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk, alongside players such as Kim “Peyz” Soo-hwan, Chen “Bin” Zebin and Peter “Asuna” Mazuryk.
The nominations reflect the increasingly international nature of top-level esports.
Players from different games and regions are competing for recognition within the same awards structure, reflecting how esports has developed into a multi-title global entertainment industry.
Team nominations span several major games
The Team of the Year category also illustrates the diversity of the modern esports market.
Nominees include Team Vitality’s Counter-Strike 2 roster, OpTic Texas from Call of Duty, PARIVISION and Team Spirit from Dota 2, Bilibili Gaming from League of Legends, 100 Thieves from Valorant, Gentle Mates from Rocket League, FaZe Clan from Rainbow Six Siege and Team Falcons from Rocket League.
Rather than being concentrated around a single title, the category reflects the scale of the wider competitive gaming ecosystem.
New talent receives recognition
The awards also include a Breakthrough Player of the Year category, with nominees including Jaime “Craime” Bustos, Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin, Danil “Molodoy” Golubenko and Romanian player Ștefan “Sayonara” Mîtcu.
The category is particularly relevant to an industry where player careers can develop quickly.
Young competitors can move from regional tournaments into international competition within a relatively short period, making breakout performances an important part of the esports business model.
The awards are also an industry event
The Esports Awards have increasingly evolved beyond a simple player recognition ceremony.
The event brings together teams, publishers, tournament organisers, broadcasters, sponsors and creators, giving the industry an opportunity to highlight both competitive achievements and commercial developments.
This year’s ceremony in Miami will take place at a time when the esports market is undergoing changes in tournament structures, media distribution and team economics.
Voting continues into November
Fans will be able to vote until November 10, with a special Turbo Week period from November 3 to November 10 during which votes count twice.
The final results will therefore combine the awards process with significant public participation.
The ceremony will offer a snapshot of the competitive gaming landscape at the end of a year marked by major tournaments, expanding mobile esports and continued investment in global esports events.
