Thunderpick becomes presenting partner for 2026 Esports Awards

Thunderpick has been announced as the presenting and official iGaming partner of the 2026 Esports Awards. The 12-month partnership, branded as 'Esports Awards Presented by Thunderpick', covers the main ceremony, three specific awards, and year-round programming.

Thunderpick to present key awards and lead year-round content

As part of its leading role, Thunderpick will present three key honours: Esports Play of the Month, Esports Play of the Year, and Streamer of the Year. The company will also support original storytelling and content throughout the year. This includes the Esports Play of the Month content series and the Origins Podcast.

Thunderpick and the Esports Awards plan to collaborate on a content series featuring current and former professional players discussing their careers and experiences. The partnership gives Thunderpick a role across both the awards night and ongoing content initiatives.

Fan voting underway with double-vote Turbo Week active

Voting for the 2026 Esports Awards is open now through November 10. The final stage of the public ballot is a Turbo Week, where votes cast from November 3 to November 10 will count double. Fans can submit their choices at the official voting website.

There are nine different categories currently open to fan voting. These include Esports Game of the Year, Esports Mobile Game of the Year, Streamer of the Year, and Esports Personality of the Year. The voting window closes one week before the ceremony.

Partnership spans 12 months and includes major event in Miami

The 12-month agreement runs through to 2027 and encompasses the main awards ceremony scheduled for November 17 in Miami. The Esports Awards, founded in 2015 and described as the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, honours the best in the industry from the prior year.

Thunderpick joins the Esports Awards' existing portfolio of partners, which includes the Esports World Cup, Oakley, and Miami's convention bureau. In a separate announcement, the Esports Awards also named Hotspawn presenting partner for the Esports Awards Invitational, Lifetime Achievement Mixer and PWR UP B2B Conference. Hotspawn will serve as the official media partner, covering the ceremony and surrounding events.

Michael Ashford is the Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Awards. Kelly Sanders is the Head of Strategy at Thunderpick. The financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed, and no projected audience or viewership figures were provided. The Esports Awards ceremony will take place in Miami on November 17, 2026.