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Global Gaming Awards Europe, Middle East & Africa 2026: Full Shortlist revealed

Following last week's announcement of the Executive of the Year nominees, the Global Gaming Awards Europe, Middle East & Africa are pleased to unveil the Shortlist across the remaining 14 categories, available exclusively to Insiders.

3 min read
gga emea 26 shortlist revealed
Key Points
If you're already part of the Global Gaming Insider community, you can dive straight into all 15 categories. If not, now is the perfect time to join. It's completely free to register and you'll be among the first to discover which operators and suppliers ranked in the top ten this year.

We are excited to unveil the full Shortlist across all 15 categories of the Global Gaming Awards Europe, Middle East & Africa 2026. It is available on this link first exclusively to Global Gaming Insider registered users, offering early access ahead of the official Shortlist magazine release on 23rd December. You can become an Insider FOR FREE to view the full list.

"I'd like to extend my warmest congratulations to every operator, supplier and executive who has been shortlisted this year," said Mariya Savova, Event Manager of the Global Gaming Awards.

"Once again, we saw an outstanding number of submissions. The calibre of entries made the selection process incredibly challenging and speaks volumes about the remarkable progress the industry continues to make.

"If your company appears on the Shortlist, you should feel proud that you stand among the 10 strongest performers in your category. For those who didn't make the final cut, please don't feel discouraged. Competition has been fierce and we look forward to seeing your nominations again next year", she added

The Global Gaming Awards are the most prestigious in the sector, with all shortlisted companies recognised strictly on merit and the reasons for nomination are made publicly available. Winners are determined by a panel of more than 50 senior industry leaders, with KPMG US overseeing the voting process to guarantee integrity and fairness.

This year's Judging Panel features notable executives including Mattias Wedar, CEO of LeoVegas Group; Daniela Johansson, Deputy CEO of Paf; Magdalena Podhorska-Okolow, MD, Europe - iGaming at Light & Wonder; and Wolfgang Bliem, CEO of Grand Casino Luzern, among others.

The Shortlist was compiled through a rigorous evaluation of company self-nominations, complemented by input from independent consultants and market specialists.

The winners of the Global Gaming Awards Europe, Middle East & Africa 2026 will be announced on 19th January in Barcelona, during an invite-only presentation held at the end of Day 1 of ICE. The event will be live streamed for those unable to attend.

The Global Gaming Awards are powered by Global Gaming Insider, with KPMG US serving as the official voting adjudicator. BetConstruct returns as Lead Partner, joined by category sponsors: Interblock Gaming, Aristocrat Gaming, Soft2Bet, 1xBet, SPRIBE, GR8 Tech, Upgames, EGT,SmartSoft and GammaStack.

The full 2026 Shortlist can now be accessed exclusively via Global Gaming Insider on this link: https://globalgaminginsider.com/magazine/global-gaming-awards-emea-shortlist-2026

Good to know

Since 2014, the Global Gaming Awards - powered by Global Gaming Insider - have stood as the most trusted and prestigious awards in the gaming industry. Companies and individuals are shortlisted based on merit, and each nomination is accompanied by a publicly available reason. Winners are selected by a panel of senior industry executives, with KPMG independently adjudicating the voting process to ensure complete transparency and fairness.

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