Written by Dr. Yisong Han, Approved by Board vote on 10 September 2026.
We are pleased to announce an updated structure for the Rising Star Spotlight. The Rising Star Spotlight has provided an important way to recognise emerging scholars within the DiGRA community. To make this recognition more sustainable, more visible, and more meaningful for recipients, we will now develop it as an annual award.
The DiGRA Rising Star Award will run once per year and will include two tracks: a Student Track and an Early Career Researcher Track. The Student Track is open to current PhD students or PhD candidates. The ECR Track is open to scholars within eight years of PhD completion.
Within each track, applicants may apply for one or both of the following award categories:
- The Rising Star Award recognises an emerging scholar’s broader scholarly profile, contribution to game studies, engagement with the DiGRA community, and contribution to diversity and representation within the field.
- The Outstanding Paper Award recognises an outstanding scholarly paper that makes a strong contribution to game studies. Each applicant may submit only one paper for consideration in a given award year. The submitted paper should have been published, accepted, or formally presented within the previous two years. It may be a journal article, conference paper, book chapter, or another recognised scholarly publication within game studies or a closely related field. Where the paper is co authored, applicants should indicate their contribution to the work.
Each year, the award structure will include recognition in both the Student and ECR tracks. Up to two recipients may be selected for the Rising Star Award in each track, and up to two recipients may be selected for the Outstanding Paper Award in each track. This creates up to eight recognitions each year.
All recipients will receive formal recognition through DiGRA’s communication channels, including the website, newsletter, mailing list, social media, and the AGM where appropriate. Complimentary DiGRA membership will be provided to Rising Star Award recipients. Outstanding Paper Award recipients will receive dedicated visibility through DiGRA communication channels, but will not automatically receive complimentary membership unless they are also selected as Rising Star Award recipients.
The award will be open to self nominations, nominations by DiGRA Board members, and nominations by DiGRA members. To ensure fairness, consistency, and consent, all nominees will be asked to complete the same nomination form themselves. A nomination by a Board member or DiGRA member will therefore function as an invitation to apply, rather than as a complete application submitted on the candidate’s behalf.
The award is not limited to current DiGRA members. Eligible emerging scholars working in game studies or closely related fields are welcome to apply.
Applicants who were nominated or applied in previous years but were not selected remain eligible for future consideration, provided they still meet the relevant track requirements. Previous recipients of the same award category are not eligible to apply for that category again.
Important Dates
1 September 2026
Nominations and applications open.
1 February 2027
Nominations and applications close.
February 2027
Eligibility checks and preparation of application materials for review.
Reviewing committee confirmed.
March–May 2027
Reviewing period.
Late May 2027 – Early June 2027
Final decisions confirmed and promotional materials prepared in collaboration with the recipients
June/July 2027
Recipients announced during the DiGRA annual conference.
Late August
Follow-up promotion through DiGRA’s website, newsletter, mailing list, and social media.