The official date for The Game Awards 2026 has now been confirmed, setting the stage for one of the most competitive years in gaming history. With blockbuster titles expected throughout the year — including the much-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 — fans are already asking one key question: Will GTA 6 be eligible for The Game Awards 2026?
The Game Awards 2026 will take place live on Thursday, December 10, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The announcement was made by Geoff Keighley, the creator, producer, and host of the annual gaming awards show.
Keighley shared the update via a post on X and noted that more details about the event will be revealed later this year. First launched in 2014, The Game Awards has grown into one of the most influential events in the gaming industry, celebrating the year’s best titles while unveiling major upcoming releases from both AAA studios and independent developers.
The eligibility of Grand Theft Auto 6 for The Game Awards 2026 remains uncertain due to the event’s release cutoff rules.
Traditionally, The Game Awards sets its eligibility cutoff on the Friday of the third week of November. For reference:
The eligibility cutoff for The Game Awards 2025 (aired December 11, 2025) was Friday, November 21, 2025, at 9pm PT
Any games released after that cutoff automatically moved to the following year’s awards
Based on this pattern, the expected eligibility cutoff for The Game Awards 2026 would likely fall on Friday, November 20.
According to current timelines, GTA 6 is scheduled to release just one day before the expected cutoff date, meaning the game could narrowly qualify for nominations at The Game Awards 2026.
However, if Rockstar Games delays the launch again, GTA 6 would instead become eligible for The Game Awards 2027, postponing its awards debut by a year.
Even without GTA 6, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the busiest and most competitive years in gaming. Several high-profile releases are expected to contend for major awards, including:
Resident Evil Requiem
Marvel’s Wolverine
Control Resonant
Forza Horizon 3
007 First Light
With such a crowded slate, competition for categories like Game of the Year, Best Direction, and Best Narrative is expected to be intense.
The Game Awards 2025 were held live on December 11 at the same Peacock Theatre venue and were streamed globally on YouTube and Twitch.
One of the biggest stories of the night was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which won a record nine awards, including Game of the Year. The debut title from French indie studio Sandfall Interactive also secured wins for:
Best Game Direction
Best Narrative
Best Art Direction
Best Score and Music
Best Performance
The event also featured several high-profile game reveals, including:
Divinity, the next project from Larian Studios
Control Resonant from Remedy Entertainment
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic from Casey Hudson’s new studio
Two new Tomb Raider titles from Crystal Dynamics
With its December 10 date locked in, The Game Awards 2026 is expected to deliver:
High-stakes award battles
World premieres and surprise announcements
Potential first-year recognition for GTA 6, depending on release timing
More information regarding nominations, categories, and livestream details is expected closer to the event.