IAG announces all 100 judges for 2026 IAG Academy IR Awards at Newport World Resorts on 15 September

Inside Asian Gaming has announced the complete roster of 100 judges selected to evaluate entries for the 2026 IAG Academy Integrated Resort (IR) Awards, with the ceremony scheduled to take place at Newport World Resorts on 15 September. The announcement represents a significant milestone in the awards programme's calendar and signals the breadth of expertise being mobilized to assess the region's leading integrated resort operators and hospitality innovations.

The IAG Academy IR Awards programme serves as a premier recognition mechanism within Asia's gaming and hospitality sector, celebrating operational excellence, customer experience, and strategic innovation across integrated resort properties. By assembling a panel of 100 judges, the programme ensures diverse perspectives spanning casino operations, hotel management, food and beverage, entertainment, regulatory compliance, and player experience—reflecting the multifaceted nature of modern integrated resorts.

Newport World Resorts, the venue for the ceremony, represents a fitting location for recognizing industry achievements. As a major integrated resort property in the region, hosting the awards underscores the venue's standing within the Asian gaming landscape and provides an appropriate backdrop for celebrating peer excellence.

The scale of the judging panel—100 experts—indicates the programme's ambition to maintain credibility and rigor in evaluation. Such a large, diverse panel reduces the risk of bias and ensures that awards reflect genuine consensus among industry leaders rather than narrow perspectives. This approach strengthens the awards' prestige and makes recognition particularly meaningful for winning operators.

For operators across Asia, the IAG Academy IR Awards represent both an opportunity and a benchmark. Participation allows properties to gain third-party validation of their strategies and execution, while the awards themselves serve as marketing assets and employee morale boosters. The announcement of the full judging panel signals that the evaluation process will commence, prompting operators to finalize submissions and prepare their cases for recognition.