With €25,000 in prize money across five categories, submissions will be accepted until October 9.
The awards will be presented at the DEVOTION event in November, which will be held for the first time in Valladolid at the Millennium Dome.
The competition is being unveiled this weekend at Gamescom in Cologne (Germany), coinciding with World Video Game Day, celebrated today.
The Valladolid City Council, through its Innovation and Economic Development Agency (IdeVa), will officially launch next week the 2nd edition of the Pucela Game Awards 2026, an initiative designed to recognize the talent, creativity, and innovative capabilities of Spain’s independent video game developers.
The project further strengthens Valladolid’s position as a strategic hub for digital content within Spain’s video game industry and as a launch platform for cutting-edge projects. It also represents a renewed commitment to recognizing both local and national talent. In addition, the awards form part of the action plan of the TechLab 1094 Digital Content Technology Laboratory of Castilla y León.
The new call for entries, which supports emerging studios and promotes high-quality projects, is endowed with €25,000 in prize money. Awards of €5,000 each will be granted in the following categories:
Best Indie Game 2026
Best Indie PC/Console Game
Best Indie VR Game
Best Art Direction
Best Narrative Indie Game
The diversity of categories aims to recognize everything from immersive virtual reality experiences to projects distinguished by strong storytelling or advanced graphic design.
Deadline and Applications
The application period will remain open until October 9, inclusive. Eligible participants include adults, as well as legally established groups and companies based in Spain that qualify as SMEs or microenterprises, are less than ten years old, and have annual revenues below €2 million.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their entries through the Valladolid City Council’s Electronic Headquarters, using the designated application form and attaching all required documentation and technical materials specified in the competition rules.
Individuals may also submit their applications through the General Registry of Valladolid City Council.
Practical information and application details are available on the IdeVa website.
Presentation in Germany
Representatives of the Valladolid Game Development Association (VAGDA), which collaborates with the City Council to strengthen local talent and the regional gaming ecosystem, will present the competition in Germany this weekend. The initiative will be promoted among professionals from the Spanish Video Game Association (AEVI) and the Spanish Association of Video Game and Entertainment Software Developers and Producers (DEV), the sector’s leading industry organizations representing companies and entities across the entire value chain.
Until August 30, Cologne is hosting Gamescom 2026, one of the world’s leading video game industry events. This year’s edition brings together more than 1,700 exhibitors across 233,000 square meters, fully occupied for the first time. The event combines new game presentations, digital content showcases, indie talent displays, professional networking opportunities, and community-focused activities.
Gamescom further highlights the economic, technological, and cultural significance of the video game industry, as well as its capacity to generate innovation, skilled employment, and new business opportunities.
Awards Ceremony at DEVOTION
The finalist projects are expected to be announced in late October 2026. Their creators will have the opportunity to showcase and promote their work during DEVOTION, an annual professional event focused on video games and digital content.
Held in Valladolid for the first time and hosted at the Millennium Dome (Cúpula del Milenio), DEVOTION will also be the venue for the awards gala, scheduled for November 14 and 15.
The Quality of the 2025 Winners
It is worth noting that the first edition of the awards received 82 submissions, all characterized by a high level of technical quality. An expert jury composed of professionals from academia, journalism, and industry selected the following winners:
The Occultist by Daloar Studio (Best Indie Game 2025)
Prismania by Tenebris Studio (Best Narrative Indie Game)
Prelude Dark Pain by Quickfire Games (Best Art Direction)
Shadows on the Walls by Bowl of Tentacles (Best Indie VR Game)
En Silencio by Renato Meyer (Best Indie PC/Console Game)
