BAFTA Games Awards Announces 2026 Fellowship For Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen

This month, the BAFTA Games Awards return. On Friday 17 April, the 22nd ceremony is due to be held at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, celebrating all of the year’s very best games.

It’s also an opportunity for BAFTA to award one individual with a BAFTA Fellowship, the organisation’s highest honour awarded to “exceptional individuals who have driven innovation, creativity, and positive change in the screen arts, including games, over the course of their career”.

This year’s recipient has now been confirmed as Supercell CEO and co-founder Ilkka Paananen. You may not know Paanenan by name, but you’ll most definitely be familiar with Supercell, the company behind global hits like Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Hay Day, and Brawl Stars.

The Finnish entrepreneur has crafted one of the most successful mobile games companies of all-time, founding Supercell in 2010. What began as a small team has grown into a global powerhouse, with Supercell boasting a strong culture of trust and an impeccable sense of open communication and collaboration.

Beyond his work with Supercell, Paanenan supports budding founders through his organisation Illusion where he can invest and mentor the next generation of talent. He is also the co-founder of the Ilkka Paanenan Foundation which encourages social and mental well-being among young people, children, and their families. The foundation promotes equal opportunities regardless of background.

Paanenan Calls The Fellowship An “Incredible Honour”

“Receiving the BAFTA Fellowship is an incredible honour,” Paanenan said in a press release.

“Looking at the names of previous Fellows, I see so many of my personal heroes – people whose work has inspired me and who I continue to look up to.

“Being included in their company is something I never could have imagined. Throughout my career, I have been extremely fortunate.

“But my greatest fortune, by far, has been the privilege of working with amazingly talented and passionate game developers over the past 25 years. They are the ones who create the magic. This award truly belongs to each and every one of them."

Supercell / Joonas Brandt

Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, added, “It is a real privilege to honour Ilkka with the BAFTA Fellowship this year. A visionary leader in games, he has built a globally influential company while championing creative collaboration and trust at every level.”

She continued, “His deep respect and commitment to nurturing emerging talent and his ongoing support for young people reflect the very best of BAFTA’s values.

“We are delighted to celebrate his exceptional contribution to the industry and look forward to presenting him with this honour at this year’s BAFTA Games Awards with Google Play."

Previous winners of the Fellowship include Yoko Shimomura, Shuhei Yoshida, Siobhan Reddy, Hideo Kojima, Tim Schafer, John Carmack and more.

The 22nd BAFTA Games Awards will be held on Friday 17 April. It’ll be available to watch via BAFTA’s Twitch and YouTube channels.