The Esports Radar hosts honors at GEIW in Cologne

Industry clout gets handed out in Cologne this June as a new honours list tries to stamp who actually shaped esports over the past year.

Esports leaders honours debut at GEIW 2026

• The Esports Radar will reveal the Esports Leaders Honours List 2025-26 in Cologne.
• Global Esports Industry Week 2026 hosts the ceremony on June 19.
• Germany is where the week-long business meetup goes down.
• Organizers want the awards baked into the major industry calendar.

Six categories spotlight impact

• The list highlights people, organizations, and standout projects.
• Categories cover advertising, product builds, and industry development.
• Rising Star and Esports Leaders focus on individual names.
• Access and Grassroots Champions nods to community builders.

Public nominations and deadlines

• Submissions stay open until February 24 through an online form.
• The wider industry can toss in suggestions.
• Selection aims for fairness through open nominations.
• Super Early Bird passes cut prices by 30 percent.

GEIW expansion and Cologne move

• GEIW 2026 shifts to Cologne from June 18 to 21.
• The event runs alongside the IEM Cologne Major 2026 Counter-Strike 2.
• The Esports Radar and Esports Integrity Commission organize the week.
• ESL FACEIT Group serves as the Host Partner.

New summits and IMPACT Live launch

• IMPACT Live debuts as a cross-sector gathering.
• ESIC Global Esports Summit joins the lineup.
• GameDev and Edu Summits roll under the IMPACT Live banner.
• The honours aim to become an annual tradition.