Karrie Shao and Sam Maggs Are Your 2026 IGF Awards and GDCA Hosts

The 2026 Game Developers Conference (GDC) Festival of Gaming will feature Karrie Shao and Sam Maggs as the official hosts for its two primary honors ceremonies, the Independent Games Festival (IGF) Awards and the Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA). These ceremonies serve as the centerpiece of the annual festival, providing a platform to recognize excellence in game design, innovation, and technical achievement across both the independent and mainstream sectors of the global video game industry.

By selecting Shao and Maggs, the event organizers aim to highlight the industry’s brightest talents and celebrate the creative contributions of developers from around the world. The IGF Awards specifically focus on the achievements of independent creators, while the GDCA honors the top games and individuals as voted on by the professional game development community. These events are scheduled to take place during the 2026 conference cycle, continuing the tradition of honoring artistic and technical milestones within the medium.

The scope of these awards is international, reflecting the diverse geographic and professional landscape of modern game development. As the industry prepares for the 2026 season, these hosting appointments signal the start of the promotional cycle for one of the most significant peer-recognized award programs in the interactive entertainment field. The ceremonies will provide a comprehensive look at the state of game development, celebrating the evolution of the craft through the lens of its most influential practitioners.