The Game Awards 2026 are fast approaching, and creator Geoff Keighley has just set a date for the whole world to discover which games have been nominated this year. The nominations — including those in the headline Game of the Year category — will be revealed on Tuesday 17 November at 5pm UK time, on YouTube and Twitch. Inevitably, all eyes will be on GTA 6, which launches a few days after the announcement but is very much eligible for the competition. Meanwhile, the organisers are thinking bigger than ever, with the ceremony being broadcast on Disney+ and Roblox for the first time. Here's the lowdown.
GTA 6: a future GOTY?
That's obviously the big question hanging over this 2026 edition. Even though GTA 6 is due out after the nominations are announced, Rockstar Games' title can absolutely be among the contenders for the GOTY crown. The Game Awards rules state that games must be released no later than 20 November 2026 at 9pm Pacific time to be eligible. In other words, GTA 6 fits the criteria, though whether it appears among the nominees will of course come down to the jury's votes — a jury that has had Rockstar Games' title in its hands for nearly three weeks now. As a reminder, the nominations are drawn up by an international jury made up of more than a hundred outlets and content creators. Each newsroom submits its picks across the various categories, and the votes are then compiled to determine the finalists.
Disney+ and Roblox join the party
Another major change: The Game Awards continue to expand with the arrival of new broadcast platforms. On top of YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Steam and the usual social networks, the ceremony will now be available on Disney+, Roblox and directly from the PS5. On Roblox, adult viewers will even be able to follow the event in a virtual space called The Block, interact with one another and pick up digital items.
All of which proves, year after year, just how much of a fixture The Game Awards have become in the industry calendar. For the record, the 2025 edition racked up 171 million live views worldwide, an 11% increase year on year. Needless to say, Geoff Keighley fully intends to beat that record with this new edition, which promises its usual helping of awards, World Premieres and surprise announcements. The Game Awards 2026 will take place on 10 December at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, which means the small hours of 11 December for UK viewers. And guess what? Part of the screenactu team will be there in Los Angeles to attend the event and come back with exclusive material.
