The Game Awards 2026 will begin with its opening act at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, December 10, 2026. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. That is 00:30 UTC on Friday, December 11.
As of the latest official information available on August 12, 2026, the 2026 nominees have not been announced. The organizers say the nominee reveal is expected in mid-November. Until then, the 2025 list below is the latest confirmed nominee list—but it is not a list of 2026 contenders.
The Game Awards 2026 start time
The official opening act is scheduled for:
- Eastern Time: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 10
- Central Time: 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 10
- Mountain Time: 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 10
- Pacific Time: 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 10
- UTC: 00:30 on Friday, December 11
The event is being held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The published 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT time is for the opening act. The current announcement does not give a separate, later start time for the main show, so this is the time viewers should use when setting a countdown.
Countdown to The Game Awards 2026
At the time of this article’s last update—August 12, 2026, at 14:25:53 UTC—the opening act was approximately 120 days, 10 hours, 4 minutes, and 7 seconds away.
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That figure is a snapshot, not a permanent countdown. It should be recalculated whenever this guide is updated. The target time is December 11, 2026, at 00:30 UTC.
For a reliable live countdown, count down to the opening-act time rather than trying to estimate the length of the ceremony. The show’s running time and the exact timing of individual segments have not been confirmed in the available 2026 information.
Where to watch The Game Awards 2026
The Game Awards says the 2026 broadcast will be available to stream for free across major streaming services. The safest destinations to monitor are the event’s official channels on:
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- YouTube
- Twitch
The official Game Awards website is the central place to check for the final How to Watch information as December approaches. Additional regional services, social platforms, and co-streaming details may be added closer to the event.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The 2025 viewing guidance also included Facebook Live, TikTok Live, and X, but their availability for 2026 should not be assumed until the organizers confirm it. Likewise, Prime Video was specifically announced as a partner for the 2025 edition; that does not confirm that Prime Video will carry the 2026 show.
What viewers should do before the broadcast
- Check the official Game Awards channels shortly before December 10 for the final platform list.
- Open the chosen stream before 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.
- Verify the time zone if watching outside the United States. The broadcast begins at 00:30 UTC on December 11.
- Be cautious with unofficial countdowns and streams that use the event’s name but are not published by an official channel or a clearly identified authorized co-streamer.
Are The Game Awards 2026 nominees announced?
No. The 2026 nominees were not available as of August 12, 2026. The official event announcement says the nominees are coming in mid-November. The eligibility dates for the 2026 awards are also expected to be announced in fall 2026.
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That means predictions, rumored shortlists, release-calendar favorites, and fan polls should not be presented as the official 2026 nominee list. The final categories and eligible games may depend on rules that have not yet been published.
Latest confirmed Game of the Year nominees: 2025
Until the 2026 announcement arrives, the latest official Game of the Year nominee list is from 2025:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — winner
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
These are 2025 nominees, not 2026 nominees. They are included here only as the most recent confirmed comparison point until the new list is published.
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What categories should appear in the 2026 awards?
The latest official nominee archive includes a broad range of categories. The 2025 archive listed:
- Game of the Year
- Best Game Direction
- Best Narrative
- Best Art Direction
- Best Score and Music
- Best Audio Design
- Best Performance
- Innovation in Accessibility
- Games for Impact
- Best Ongoing
- Best Community Support
- Best Independent Game
- Best Debut Indie Game
- Best Mobile Game
- Best VR/AR
- Best Action Game
- Best Action/Adventure
- Best RPG
- Best Fighting
- Best Family
- Best Sim/Strategy
- Best Sports/Racing
- Best Multiplayer
- Best Adaptation
- Most Anticipated Game
- Content Creator of the Year
- Best Esports Game
- Best Esports Athlete
- Best Esports Team
The 2025 category list is useful context, but it should not be treated as a guarantee that every category will use identical eligibility rules, names, or fields in 2026. The organizers’ fall announcement will provide the relevant 2026 details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When will the 2026 nominees be revealed?
The current official information places the nominee announcement in mid-November 2026. No more precise date has been confirmed in the material currently available.
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Once the announcement is published, this guide should be updated to replace the 2025 reference list with the official 2026 nominees. It should also be checked against the final eligibility rules, because the eligible release window and category requirements had not yet been announced as of August 12.
Quick schedule
| Item | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Event date | Thursday, December 10, 2026 |
| Venue | Peacock Theater, Los Angeles |
| Opening act | 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT |
| UTC start | 00:30 UTC on Friday, December 11 |
| Nominee announcement | Expected in mid-November 2026 |
| Streaming cost | Free through major streaming services, according to the official FAQ |
| Confirmed channels to monitor | Official YouTube and Twitch channels |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does The Game Awards 2026 start?
The opening act starts at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Central, 5:30 p.m. Mountain, and 4:30 p.m. Pacific on Thursday, December 10, 2026. That is 00:30 UTC on Friday, December 11.
Where can I watch The Game Awards 2026 for free?
The event is expected to stream for free through major streaming services. YouTube and Twitch are the primary official channels to monitor, while the final How to Watch page may add regional platforms and other authorized destinations.
Have The Game Awards 2026 nominees been announced?
No. As of August 12, 2026, the organizers said nominees would be announced in mid-November. The 2025 Game of the Year list is the latest confirmed list, not a prediction or announcement for 2026.
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Will Prime Video stream The Game Awards 2026?
That has not been confirmed. Prime Video was announced for the 2025 edition, but that arrangement should not be assumed for 2026.
The Bottom Line
The Game Awards 2026 begins with its opening act at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, December 10, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Watch for free through the official YouTube and Twitch channels, and expect the 2026 nominees in mid-November. Until that announcement, any supposed 2026 nominee list is unofficial.
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