Sweden’s Minister for Culture to present award at the Swedish Game Awards

On 18 February 2026, the Swedish games industry will gather at Berns in Stockholm for the inaugural Swedish Game Awards. Voting has also opened for Players’ Game of the Year 2025. The gala will feature a full evening programme celebrating Swedish game development, with presenters familiar to both the industry and the wider public. Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand will attend the event and present the Best Game Design Award. “Having the Minister for Culture at the gala underlines the importance of games as a cultural expression in Sweden,” said Johanna Nylander, Acting CEO of Dataspelsbranschen. “Game development brings together artistic creation, technology and design—and Sweden is exceptionally strong at combining these into world-class experiences.” Nominees for the Best Game Design Award are:

• ARC Raiders — Embark Studios
• Split Fiction — Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts
• Europa Universalis V — Paradox Tinto / Paradox Interactive
• Keep Driving — YCJY Games

A full list of categories and nominees, as well as access to the livestream, is available on the event’s official website: https://swedish-game-awards.confetti.events/