Game of the Year season is officially underway. The Game Awards announced on November 13 that the nominees for The Game Awards 2026 will be revealed during a live global announcement special on Tuesday, November 17 at 9:00 a.m. PT (noon ET, 5:00 p.m. GMT, and 2:00 a.m. JST on November 18), hosted by creator and producer Geoff Keighley.
Key dates
- Nominee announcement: Tuesday, November 17, 9:00 a.m. PT
- Eligibility cutoff: games must be commercially available by Friday, November 20, 2026 at 9:00 p.m. PT (November 30 for the Players’ Voice category)
- Ceremony: Thursday, December 10, 2026, live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with the opening act at 4:30 p.m. PT
Will GTA VI make the cut?
As Denfaminicogamer notes, fans on X are already debating this year’s Game of the Year field, and one question keeps coming up: whether Grand Theft Auto VI, which launches on November 19, will appear among the nominees even though it releases two days after the announcement. Based on the official rules, it is eligible, since it lands before the November 20 cutoff.
The show’s FAQ also explains how that can work in practice. To meet balloting deadlines, publishers and developers are allowed to give voting outlets advance or pre-release access to their games for critical evaluation. That means a late-year blockbuster can still be judged alongside games that have been out for months, if its publisher provides early access.
Last year’s big winner
According to Denfaminicogamer, The Game Awards 2025 was dominated by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which led the field in nominations and took home nine awards, including Game of the Year. Beyond the trophies, the show is also known for world premieres and new looks at upcoming games.
According to the official FAQ, the December 10 ceremony streams free across all major streaming services. The nominee special will stream live on The Game Awards’ official channels.
Source: Denfaminicogamer
