Geoff Keighley just locked in the date — and with it, put the industry back in its usual bind: the “Game of the Year” ceremony will once again happen before the year itself is actually over.
The Game Awards 2026 will take place on Thursday, December 10, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The broadcast kicks off at 7:30 PM EST and runs for roughly three and a half hours, streaming free as usual on YouTube, Twitch, X, and Facebook. Keighley confirmed the date himself on social media, noting that tickets and further details will roll out later this fall.
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When Will the Game of the Year Nominees Be Announced
Nominees are traditionally revealed around mid-November — nearly a month before the show itself. The voting formula stays the same: more than 100 media outlets and creators worldwide account for 90% of the result, while the remaining 10% comes from public voting. That split leaves room for surprises in both the nominations and the final winner — the “Players’ Voice” award, in particular, is decided entirely by fans and can go to an indie title over an industry favorite.
The format’s defining quirk is timing: the ceremony happens before the calendar year ends. That means any game released after December 10 simply misses the eligibility window for that year’s race — Indiana Jones and the Great Circle ran into exactly this problem back in 2024.
Who’s in the Running for Game of the Year This Year
Early industry predictions have Grand Theft Auto VI holding the frontrunner spot — its scale and cultural footprint make it the benchmark other contenders get measured against. That said, the game’s release has been pushed to November 2026, so launching this close to the nomination deadline is a double-edged sword: it stays fresh in voters’ minds, but leaves little time to build critical consensus or reviews.
Other names showing up in early GOTY conversations include:
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Resident Evil Requiem — the next entry in the horror franchise, expected to deliver on atmosphere and polish;
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Crimson Desert — a visually ambitious open-world title with a cinematic presentation;
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The Blood of Dawnwalker — an original IP with no franchise baggage that could break through on creative strength alone;
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a handful of indie standouts that regularly sneak into shortlists thanks to the jury’s attention to authorial vision.
Worth keeping in mind: the actual GOTY picture tends to shift right up until November — review scores, sales numbers, and general buzz can reshuffle the favorites list in a matter of weeks.
Beyond the trophies, the show remains one of gaming’s biggest reveal platforms — last year’s broadcast unveiled a new Mega Man title, several Tomb Raider projects, and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, which went on to become one of 2026’s most talked-about releases. So even if the awards themselves aren’t the draw for you, tuning in on December 10 is worth it for the announcements alone — they’re usually what ends up shaping the industry conversation for the following year.
