The iGaming industry is bracing for a night of international intrigue as the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026 officially opens its doors for entries. This year’s ceremony, themed “License to Win,” draws inspiration from the timeless sophistication and daring missions of James Bond.
The event is scheduled for July 2, 2026, at London’s historic Tobacco Dock, following a successful four-year residency at the Troxy. This 19th edition serves as the high-stakes finale to the iGB L!VE conference, which itself is moving to ExCeL London.
The Mission Timeline: Key Dates
Stakeholders across the affiliate ecosystem are encouraged to submit their “intelligence briefings” through a newly upgraded Entries Portal.
- January 21: Entries and nominations officially open.
- March 27: Final deadline for all nominations.
- May 5: Official shortlists revealed and public voting begins.
- May 29: Voting closes for the people’s choice categories.
- July 2: The “Big Night” awards ceremony at Tobacco Dock.
The “Secret Service”: A Higher Standard of Judging
What sets the 2026 edition apart is the rigor of its Secret Service, a panel of external industry judges handpicked for their specific expertise.
- Expert Pillar Matching: The panel is divided into specialist groups focusing on Affiliates, Individuals, Programmes/Networks, and Suppliers.
- Confidential Intelligence: All judges operate under strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), allowing companies to submit sensitive KPIs and financial data without fear of external revelation.
- Focus on Depth: Judges prioritize comprehensive applications backed by measurable KPIs, case studies, and granular data over simple duplicates.
- Neutrality: The process is designed for merit-based recognition, ensuring that disruptive startups have the same opportunity as established giants.
New Awards and Bigger Stakes
The 2026 edition features 22 categories designed to recognize those who “moved the needle” in 2025. What is most exciting is that iGB raises the bar by introducing new awards and exciting changes to existing categories. More ways to win, more recognition for excellence:
- SEO Superstar (NEW): Celebrating the in-house, agency, or freelance expert who most successfully elevated affiliate visibility.
- Best New Programme (NEW): Recognizing the most disruptive startup launched post-2023.
- Best Employer Expansion: This category now invites submissions from all businesses active in the sector, including affiliate programmes.
- Best Affiliate Manager: This has transitioned into a people’s choice vote based on the judges’ highest-scoring entries from the initial round.
Strategic Integration with iGB L!VE
The relocation of the awards to Tobacco Dock, as well as the “License to Win” theme, aligns with the broader expansion of the iGB portfolio. iGB L!VE 2026 is expected to be the largest edition to date, with a projected 15,000 attendees, a 25% increase from previous years. This “London iGaming Week” creates a concentrated environment for networking, product visibility, and business expansion.
