Each year, only five of the world’s most active and prolific board game designers earn a place among the finalists of the Board Game Designer of the Year award, organized by Lucca Crea, the company behind Lucca Comics & Games, in collaboration with SAZ Italia. This year, the jury identified seven outstanding candidates, from which five finalists have now been selected.
The winner will be announced and presented with the award during the official ceremony at the Teatro del Giglio Giacomo Puccini during Lucca Comics & Games, taking place from October 29 to November 2.
For the 2026 edition, the jury is composed of Fabio Cambiaghi (Jury President), Paolo Cupola, former President of the Gioco dell’Anno award, Harald Schrapers, Chairman of the Spiel des Jahres, Stefania Niccolini (SAZ Italia delegate), and Grégory Grard, winner of the previous edition of the award.
The 5 Finalists (listed alphabetically)
Bruno Cathala One of Europe’s most versatile and prolific designers, Cathala is widely recognized as a master of collaborative game design. His extensive body of work includes numerous acclaimed titles co-designed with other authors, demonstrating a rare ability to foster productive and inspiring creative partnerships. His recent output confirms a remarkable consistency of quality and an exceptional ability to anticipate market trends, appealing equally to dedicated hobby gamers and casual players. The originality of his mechanisms, always closely aligned with theme and setting, has established him as a benchmark for contemporary game design.
Eligible titles: The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth (2024), Cyclades: Legendary Edition (2024), Solstis (2024), Gatsby (2025), Legions: Abyss Universe (2025), Celestia Duo (2025), Frosted Blooms (2026), Bella Vista (2026), Vision s(2026), TROK (2026), Carnimal (2026), Castle Nightingale (2026).
Johannes Goupy A French designer whose creative voice has matured rapidly and convincingly, Goupy stands out for his ability to combine original mechanisms with engaging and distinctive thematic experiences. His recent work demonstrates a keen sensitivity to the demands of today’s market, producing titles capable of winning over both critics and newcomers to the hobby. His talent for refreshing the language of game design with personal and innovative ideas positions him among the most promising and inventive voices on the contemporary international scene.
Eligible titles: Khiva (2024), Pixies (2024), From the Moon (2024), Dewan (2025), Collect! (2025), Space Lab (2025), Legions: Abyss Universe (2025), Salamandra (2025).
Tomáš Holek Over the past few years, Holek has demonstrated remarkable productivity and an impressive range as a designer. He moves effortlessly from family games to heavier strategy titles, displaying an uncommon degree of creative versatility. His ability to craft smooth and immersive gameplay experiences, supported by themes that remain coherent with the underlying mechanisms, enables him to both interpret and anticipate player expectations with exceptional timeliness. His design signature combines thematic breadth with rigorous development, resulting in a body of work that continues to grow in both scope and quality.
Eligible titles: SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (2024), Tea Garden (2024), Galileo Galilei (2024), Aquaria (2025), Čmeláci (2025), Pondscape (2025).
Reiner Knizia A legendary figure in international game design, Knizia has been synonymous with systemic innovation for decades. The mathematical models underpinning his games remain unmatched in their rigor, originality, and ability to generate experiences that are both strategically deep and widely accessible. His extraordinary capacity to publish influential titles consistently across a vast range of genres and audiences makes him perhaps the foremost example of creative productivity and versatility in the history of the hobby. Decades of global success and enduring popularity further demonstrate a profound understanding of mainstream audiences, completing the profile of a designer of exceptional creative stature.
Eligible titles (selection): Glitches (2024), Lux Nova (2024), MLEM: Space Agency (2024), Capybara Cookie Club (2024), Rebirth (2024), Cascadero (2024), Pipeline (2024), Pick a Pen: Hackers (2024), Kniffel 7 (2024), Biotope: Wer schafft den besten Lebensraum? (2025), Ra: Sun God Edition (2025), Karakorum (2025), Niwa: Japanischer Garten(2025), Blooming Sea (2025), De Zoektocht naar El Dorado: Dobbelavontuur (2025), Meister Makatsu (2025), The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2025), Iliad (2025), ORBIT (2025), Ape Town (2025), Kingdom of Dice (2025), Schatz des Phönix (2025), Paws Up (2025), Amazonia Park (2024), Purrramid (2026).
Paolo Mori A designer with a distinctive voice and a clearly recognizable style, Mori excels at combining elegant abstract mechanisms with historical themes treated with both cultural rigor and genuine originality. His ability to create games that are accessible while offering meaningful depth responds effectively to the demands of today’s market, reaching both dedicated hobby gamers and broader audiences. His recent output confirms a prolific and versatile creativity that continues to evolve while maintaining the coherence of a design identity respected and appreciated internationally.
Eligible titles: Altay: Dawn of Civilization (2024), Battalion: War of the Ancients (2024), Captain Flip (2024), Battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars (2025), Toy Battle (2025), Ethnos: 2nd Edition (2025), Les Secrets de Warden Keene (2026), Nova Lectio: Status (2026).
The Jury and the organizing committee congratulate all finalists and invite board game enthusiasts from around the world to attend Lucca Comics & Games 2026 and discover the winner of the Board Game Designer of the Year 2026.