Geoff Keighley has announced that The Game Awards 2026 will take place on Thursday, December 10, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The early confirmation comes nine months ahead of the event, which is known as gaming's biggest night. Fans are already buzzing about potential highlights, including awards for highly anticipated titles like Grand Theft Auto VI.
Geoff Keighley, creator and host of The Game Awards, revealed the date for the 2026 edition via a social media post on February 2, 2026. In his announcement, he shared a teaser image and urged fans to 'save the date' for the live event at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The show will be livestreamed on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, continuing the tradition of broad accessibility.
This marks an earlier slot than the 2025 ceremony, which aired on December 11 and drew over 171 million global livestreams, setting a new viewership record. The 2025 event also saw an 11% increase in viewers compared to the previous year, underscoring the growing popularity of the awards. Beyond honoring top games, The Game Awards is renowned for surprise reveals, such as first looks at Divinity, Resident Evil Requiem, two Tomb Raider titles, and Highguard during the last show.
With the year just beginning, speculation is rife about contenders for major categories like Game of the Year. Grand Theft Auto VI, set for release on November 19, 2026, tops many lists, given Rockstar Games' track record—Red Dead Redemption 2 won multiple awards in 2018. However, eligibility depends on the cutoff date, which for 2025 was November 21. Other anticipated releases, including Resident Evil Requiem, Saros, Fable, and Control Resonant, could spark fierce competition.
Keighley has teased more details later in the year, leaving room for unannounced gems to emerge. As always, the event promises a mix of celebrations, announcements, and industry milestones.
