The Game Awards has found another screen to occupy. Disney announced on 12 November that The Game Awards 2026 will stream live on Disney+ on Thursday 10 December, alongside the event’s existing online streaming partners.
The show begins at 7:30pm Eastern / 4:30pm Pacific in the US. For UK viewers, that works out to 12:30am GMT on Friday 11 December. Yes, the yearly tradition of staying up far too late for a trailer will continue.
A new home, not an exclusive one
The important detail is that Disney+ is an additional outlet. The Game Awards organisers have confirmed that YouTube, Twitch, X, TikTok and other streaming partners from last year remain part of the 2026 event. There is no indication that the ceremony is being taken away from its free-to-watch online audience.
Disney says its live coverage will be available in select international markets, although the announcement does not give a definitive country-by-country availability list. UK viewers should check the Disney+ schedule closer to the event rather than assuming every market will carry it.
Expect premieres as well as trophies
The show returns to the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles with awards, live performances and the usual flurry of game reveals. Disney is also promising news relating to some of its own upcoming gaming projects, though it has not named the announcements. That is an invitation to speculate, not a confirmed list of reveals.
For players, the expansion to Disney+ is another sign that gaming’s biggest showcases now attract audiences well beyond the dedicated games press and streaming scene. A wider platform could introduce new viewers to the medium. We just hope the awards themselves get a fair share of the airtime between trailers.
Nominations and voting are still to come. We will cover the standout reveals and the winners, with the same emphasis on independent games that informs our everyday coverage.
Source: Disney’s official 12 November announcement. Artwork provided by Disney+ / The Game Awards.