After several years without an E3 as a benchmark, The Game Awards has established itself as the major year-end event for the video game industry.Beyond the awards ceremony, the event has become a key platform for presenting new projects, showing exclusive trailers, and setting the release schedule for the following months.
Looking ahead to the next edition, one thing is already clear: The Game Awards 2026 gala will be held on Thursday, December 10th in Los Angeles, which for Spain and much of Europe will mean following it in the early hours of the morning, most likely on the night of the 10th to December 11 due to time zone differences.
Date, time and how to follow The Game Awards 2026 from Spain and Europe
Geoff Keighley, creator and presenter of the event, has confirmed via his social media that The Game Awards 2026 will take place on December 10th at the Peacock Theater in Los AngelesThis reservation of the venue was made many months in advance, consolidating the Los Angeles theater as the usual venue for the gala.
For those following from Spain and other European countries, The practical session will take place in the early morning of December 10th to 11th.Although the organization has not yet announced the exact start time, everything points to a schedule similar to previous years, when the show started in the early hours of the morning in European territory, forcing more than one person to request the day off if they wanted to see it live.
Again, The event will be streamed globally.This will allow viewers to follow the ceremony for free on major video platforms. As usual, European media outlets will offer live coverage or summaries with all the announcements and awards for those who prefer to catch up in the morning.
Keighley has not yet detailed aspects such as the total duration of the gala or the exact structure of the programBut it has made it clear that the event will maintain its usual format of a great spectacle, combining announcements, trailers and the most important awards ceremony of the year.
Hybrid format: Peacock Theater and digital streaming
The 2026 edition will repeat the formula of recent years with a hybrid model that combines live audiences at the Peacock Theater with extensive digital broadcastingAttendees will be able to relive the gala live from the iconic Los Angeles stage, while the rest of the world will follow it from home.
As Keighley explained in his announcement, Tickets will go back on sale to the general publicThis will allow fans from all over the world to travel to the American city to witness the ceremony from the audience. Prices and reservation dates have not yet been shared; this information will be released closer to the event.
In parallel, Online streaming will continue to be the main pillar of audience reach.The Game Awards 2025 broke viewership records, cementing the event as one of the most-watched live entertainment events of the year. With these figures in mind, it's no surprise that the digital format will once again play a central role in 2026.
For Europe, this means that The main platforms and media outlets will once again offer live broadcasts, commentary in Spanish, and post-match analysis.This way, both those who stay up late and those who prefer to watch the summaries the next day will have several options to follow the event.
What The Game Awards 2025 revealed and how it sets the stage
The 2025 edition, held on December 11, set the bar high and serves as a benchmark for what can be expected in December 2026. During that gala, High-profile projects and developments in major franchises were presented., reinforcing the event's image as a showcase for important announcements.
Among the most talked-about revelations were The first trailer for the Street Fighter movie, the announcement of Larian Studios' new RPG Divinity, and Lara Croft's double appearance with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst. It also had its moment in the spotlight. Mega Man Dual Override, a new offering for the long-running saga.
The 2025 gala also served to Show a first look at Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiemto show images from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and close the night with the reveal of Highguard, a title that was reserved as the grand finale of the show.
In the awards arena, one of the names that generated the most buzz was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33The game made history at the event by accumulating a total of nine awards, becoming the most awarded title in a single edition of The Game Awards. This record will serve as a benchmark for measuring the potential impact of major releases in 2026.
A 2026 packed with key releases: GTA VI and company
With the 2026 calendar still being finalized, It's already shaping up to be a particularly intense year for the sector.Several high-budget productions are scheduled to arrive at the market before the December gala, foreshadowing a close competition for the top awards.
Among the most anticipated titles are Grand Theft Auto VI, Resident Evil 9: Requiem, Fable and Marvel's WolverineAccording to the release plans announced by their respective studios, there are also names like 007 First Light, Saros and other projects that are starting to make waves looking ahead to the year-end nominations.
Much of the attention is now focused on GTA VIIt's poised to be one of the year's biggest stars. Predictions have quickly surfaced on social media and gaming forums, placing Rockstar's title among the favorites to win some of the most coveted awards, such as Game of the Year or accolades related to direction, narrative, or acting.
With everything, The experience of previous years suggests caution.The deadline for a game to be eligible for the awards is usually set several weeks before the ceremony, which excludes some very late releases. Furthermore, there are still many 2026 projects that haven't even been announced yet and could make a strong impact as the year progresses.
Registration, eligibility, and special cases such as Dispatch
One of the unique aspects of The Game Awards is that Games must meet certain date criteria to be eligible in each edition. The organization sets a deadline for submissions, usually a few weeks before the event, in order to be eligible for voting that year.
This system has generated striking situations, such as the one in Dispatch, the narrative title from AdHoc StudiosIts first episodes premiered on October 22, 2025, and the season did not conclude until mid-November, which meant the game didn't quite fit into the 2025 gala's consideration window.
In this case, Geoff Keighley himself clarified on social media that Dispatch will be able to compete in The Game Awards 2026This is an example of how the organization manages episodic productions or staggered releases that don't easily fit into the standard schedule.
These types of situations are relevant for European and Spanish studies that focus on serial formats or early accessbecause the way the launch is structured can determine in which edition of the gala your game will have a chance to win awards.
Anticipation, predictions and the role of the European media
With the date now announced, The informal period for pools and betting begins. about which titles will be nominated and which ones will end up winning trophies in key categories such as Game of the Year, Best Narrative, Best Direction or Best Performance.
The first jokes and predictions have already appeared on social media, with messages taking it for granted that The award for the most anticipated game of 2026 will go to GTA VIAlthough these statements range from joking to expressing confidence in the game's potential, they highlight the level of anticipation surrounding its release.
Meanwhile European media outlets are already preparing their coverageWebsites that are part of the official jury of The Game Awards usually follow the event minute by minute, offering news, trailers and analysis both during the early hours of the morning and in recap pieces for those who prefer to sleep and catch up later.
For players from Spain and the rest of Europe, this means that, although the time may not be the most convenient, There will be plenty of options to follow everything that happens at the gala on December 10-11whether live or through summaries, winner lists and trailer compilations.
The fixation of December 10th as the date for The Game Awards 2026 It's already a clear landmark on the industry calendar: a night (or early morning, in Europe) packed with awards, announcements, and surprises in a year that promises to be full of major releases. With GTA VI and other big names on the horizon, the return to the Peacock Theater promises a particularly well-attended event both in and outside the United States, and especially by the Spanish and European communities who are already gearing up for another long night in front of the screen.
