The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 ceremony streams live on Wednesday, November 11 at 10am PST / 1pm EST / 6pm GMT / 7pm CEST, according to the official awards page on GamesRadar+. That is 18:00 UTC. The 44th annual show takes place in person at the Troxy in London, and organiser Future says it will be broadcast on all major platforms.
Public voting has already closed, so the winners are decided; the show is where they get revealed. Twelve games are up for Ultimate Game of the Year, the headline prize, and 21 other categories will be announced on the night.
Table of Contents
Golden Joystick Awards 2026 start time in your time zone
| Region | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 |
|---|---|
| US Pacific (PST) | 10am |
| US Eastern (EST) | 1pm |
| UK (GMT) and UTC | 6pm |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 7pm |
| India (IST)* | 11:30pm |
| Japan and Korea* | 3am, Thursday, November 12 |
| Sydney (AEDT)* | 5am, Thursday, November 12 |
*Converted by us from the official 18:00 UTC start; GamesRadar+ lists the first four rows. Check your local clock before the show.
The Golden Joystick Awards trophy, in this year's 44th annual branding. Image: Future
Where to watch the Golden Joystick Awards 2026
GamesRadar+ announced on October 26 that the ceremony will be streamed on YouTube, Twitch and X, plus the Future Games Show, PC Gamer and GamesRadar+ itself. No single platform is named as the exclusive home. The awards page says GamesRadar+ and the awards’ X account will post reporting and interviews live from the London venue.
Alix Wilton Regan, whom GamesRadar+ credits as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider Catalyst, hosts. Guest presenters from across the industry are due to join her; GamesRadar+ has not named them yet.
Who is up for Ultimate Game of the Year?
The Ultimate Game of the Year vote ran separately, from October 26 to 30, so players had longer to try the autumn releases. The twelve nominees are below, with the other categories each game is up for, taken from the official nominee list.
| Ultimate Game of the Year nominee | Also nominated for |
|---|---|
| 007 First Light | Console GOTY, Storytelling, Soundtrack, Lead Performer, Supporting Performer |
| Big Walk | PC GOTY, Indie Game, Multiplayer, Audio Design, Game Trailer |
| Resident Evil Requiem | Console GOTY, Lead Performer, Game Trailer |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | PC GOTY, Storytelling, Lead Performer |
| Dispatch | Storytelling, Soundtrack, Lead Performer |
| PRAGMATA | Console GOTY, Supporting Performer |
| Crimson Desert | PC GOTY, Soundtrack |
| CONTROL Resonant | Visual Design, Supporting Performer |
| Forza Horizon 6 | Console GOTY, Visual Design |
| Pokémon Pokopia | Console GOTY |
| STAR WARS: Galactic Racer | Audio Design |
| Phantom Blade Zero | None other |
Pragmata, set on a moon station, is up for Console Game of the Year and Ultimate Game of the Year. Image: Capcom
Counting Ultimate Game of the Year, 007 First Light and House House’s Big Walk lead with six nominations each. Last year Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took seven awards, and the Ultimate Game of the Year prize, at the 2025 show, per GamesRadar+. Our earlier Golden Joystick Awards 2026 nominees and voting guide has the full PC and Console Game of the Year shortlists, and the dates leading up to the show.
What else is decided on November 11?
- Most Wanted Game: 20 upcoming titles, including Fable, God of War Laufey, Persona 6, The Witcher 4 and Final Fantasy VII Revelation. The award covers games due after November 11, with a focus on 2027 or visible release windows.
- Still Playing awards: one for mobile (Balatro, Genshin Impact, Monopoly GO!, Pokémon GO, Roblox and others) and one for PC and console (Fortnite, Minecraft, Helldivers 2, Warframe and others).
- Studio of the Year: Capcom, Frogwares, House House, IO Interactive, Nintendo EPD and Square Enix.
- Best Gaming Hardware: six nominees including the Steam Controller and Sony’s Inzone M10S II.
GamesRadar+ also mentions “critically selected categories” that use a separate eligibility window, but its awards page does not list their nominees.
What’s next
The show is the last step; there is nothing left to vote on. The winners list is due to go up on the GamesRadar+ awards page. We will cover the winners after the ceremony, and the live gaming news page carries the day’s other stories.
Sources: GamesRadar+ (Golden Joystick Awards 2026 page, last updated Nov 5; checked 18:10 UTC Nov 9), GamesRadar+ (host announcement, Oct 26).
Live: Follow today’s gaming news as it happens
Featured image: IO Interactive
