The Game Awards 2026 nominees will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 17, during a livestream hosted by the show's creator and executive producer, Geoff Keighley.
The nomination special will begin at noon ET and will be available on YouTube and Twitch. Keighley is expected to announce the games, studios and talent competing across this year's categories, including Game of the Year.
What viewers can expect
The presentation is expected to be brief. In previous years, the nomination special has typically lasted about 10 minutes, with the Game of the Year nominees traditionally revealed near the end.
Voting for fan-selected awards will open after the livestream concludes. The announcement gives viewers the first official look at the field for the annual awards ceremony, which will take place Thursday, Dec. 10.
- Nominee announcement: Tuesday, Nov. 17
- Start time: noon ET
- Platforms: YouTube and Twitch
- Fan voting: Opens after the nomination special
Grand Theft Auto 6 qualifies for the awards
Grand Theft Auto 6 is eligible for the main awards because it is scheduled to become commercially available before the eligibility deadline. The Game Awards' official rules require eligible games to be available to customers by 9 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026.
Rockstar Games plans to release Grand Theft Auto 6 on Nov. 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, putting the game inside the deadline for categories such as Game of the Year. The Players' Voice category uses a later cutoff: Games must ship by Nov. 30.
The awards ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 10, following a 30-minute pre-show. It will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony is scheduled to include award presentations and the event's usual game announcements and premieres.
