The Game Awards 2026 Time in India (IST) and How to Watch

By GameDrop Staff · Nov 07, 2026 · Industry · 3 min read

GTA 6 key art, eligible for The Game Awards 2026 if released by Nov 20 — Image: Rockstar Games

The Game Awards 2026 streams live on Thursday, December 10 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. For viewers in India, that lands in the morning of Friday, December 11 at 6:00 AM IST. The show is free to watch, nominees are due in mid-November, and Grand Theft Auto VI just squeezes under the eligibility deadline.

Quick summary

Show date: Dec 10, 2026, Peacock Theater, Los Angeles.
Start: opening act at 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT, which is 12:30 AM UTC and 6:00 AM IST on Dec 11.
Cost: free on all major streaming services.
Nominees: "coming mid-November" per the official site; exact day not announced.
Eligibility cutoff: games must be on sale by Nov 20, 2026, 9 PM PT.

What time is The Game Awards 2026 in India?

The official FAQ says the opening act begins at 7:30 PM Eastern / 4:30 PM Pacific on December 10. Converted, that is 6:00 AM IST on Friday, December 11. Pixel Herald reports the show runs about three and a half hours, so expect it to wrap up around 9:30 AM IST. The organisers have not published a separate India broadcast schedule.

Place	Start time	Date
Los Angeles (PT)	4:30 PM	Thu, Dec 10
New York (ET)	7:30 PM	Thu, Dec 10
London (GMT)	12:30 AM	Fri, Dec 11
India (IST)	6:00 AM	Fri, Dec 11

How can I watch The Game Awards 2026 for free?

The show streams on all major platforms, and the official FAQ says co-streaming is welcome. Last year the show was streamed on YouTube, Twitch and other services, and last year's replay is still on the official YouTube channel. Pick whichever you prefer on the day; no ticket or subscription is needed to watch online.

When are the Game Awards 2026 nominees announced?

The official site only says nominees are coming mid-November. INSERT FUTURE notes the show revealed its list on a Monday in mid-November in both 2024 and 2025, and a Chinese guide by clip.dor.gg puts last year's reveal at November 17. Treat any specific 2026 date as unconfirmed until the organisers post it.

Most categories are picked by a jury of more than 100 global media and influencer outlets. Winners are decided 90% by the jury and 10% by fan votes. Fan voting for regular categories closes Wednesday, December 9 at 6 PM PT.

Can GTA 6 be nominated at The Game Awards 2026?

It can qualify. The rules cover any game on sale by Friday, November 20 at 9 PM PT, and Rockstar releases GTA 6 on November 19. Qualifying is not the same as being nominated, though. If nominees are revealed in mid-November, jurors would have to play the game before it launches. For the launch timing, see our GTA 6 release time in India guide, and for early impressions watch our GTA 6 review embargo report.

Earlier in the awards season, the Golden Joystick Awards on November 11 already excludes GTA 6; see our Golden Joystick guide.

What can I expect at the show?

Beyond trophies, The Game Awards is known for world premieres and new trailers. Nothing for this year's show has been confirmed yet. Keep an eye on our launch calendar for dates that get announced, and our deals page for free games.