The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 take place Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Troxy, a former art deco movie palace in East London, and the show streams live and free on YouTube, Twitch and X. Future, the British publisher that runs the awards, hasn't announced a start time yet. Last year's show began at 11 a.m. ET, 8 a.m. PT.
Twelve games are in the running for Ultimate Game of the Year, the night's top prize, including Resident Evil Requiem, Forza Horizon 6, Crimson Desert and Phantom Blade Zero. Fan voting has already closed. Grand Theft Auto VI isn't eligible because it comes out Thursday, Nov. 19, eight days after the ceremony.
What time the show starts
Future still hasn't announced a start time. The Oct. 26 press release that revealed the nominees gives the date, the city and the streaming platforms, but no time.
The closest guide is the 2025 broadcast, which started at 4 p.m. in the UK. That was 11 a.m. ET and 8 a.m. PT, a weekday-morning slot across the US. If Future keeps the same window, the stream would start around then on Nov. 11, but Future hasn't confirmed it.
Where to watch
The stream is free worldwide on YouTube, Twitch and X through Future's own channels. You don't need a subscription.
Alix Wilton Regan, who plays Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, hosts the show alongside guest presenters from the industry.
The 12 Ultimate Game of the Year nominees
Games released between Nov. 8, 2025, and Oct. 25, 2026, qualify, and the rules also allow titles Future's judges had played extensively before launch, through review code for example. That's how Phantom Blade Zero makes the list even though it only went on sale Oct. 29, four days after the cutoff. It launched to a 90 out of 100 average from critics. Here's the full shortlist:
- 007 First Light
- Big Walk
- Control Resonant
- Crimson Desert
- Dispatch
- Forza Horizon 6
- Phantom Blade Zero
- Pokémon Pokopia
- Pragmata
- Resident Evil Requiem
- Star Wars: Galactic Racer
- The Blood of Dawnwalker
Daniel Dawkins, Future's content director for games, points to the spread from small indie teams to franchises like Pokémon, Resident Evil, Star Wars and James Bond. Several nominees show up elsewhere on the ballot, too. The Blood of Dawnwalker, which we reviewed in September, is also up for PC Game of the Year and Best Storytelling.
How voting works
Voting is over. Fans cast ballots in two rounds on the awards site. The category vote ended Friday, Oct. 23, and the Ultimate Game of the Year vote ended Friday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m. ET.
Future hands out 25 awards in all. The public category vote decides 21 of them, including Console Game of the Year, PC Game of the Year and Most Wanted Game, the award for the most anticipated upcoming game. Ultimate Game of the Year, also chosen by fans, makes 22. The last three, Critics' Choice, Breakthrough and Streamers' Choice, skip the public vote and are revealed during the show.
That's why Future bills the Golden Joysticks as the only games awards show picked by players. At The Game Awards on Dec. 10, a jury of media outlets accounts for 90% of the result, as our guide to that show explains.
Why GTA 6 isn't nominated
Grand Theft Auto VI launches Nov. 19, 25 days after the Oct. 25 cutoff, so it can't compete for this year's top award. If Future keeps a similar calendar, its first shot would come in 2027. For everything Rockstar has confirmed so far, see our GTA 6 explainer.
It's also absent from the 20 Most Wanted Game nominees, an award it won in 2025 along with Best Game Trailer for its second trailer. Future hasn't said why in its announcements, though Dawkins noted when voting opened that the game arrives Nov. 19, eight days after the show. Rockstar does have a horse in the race with GTA Online, nominated in Still Playing, the category for games people keep coming back to years after release.
The Game Awards work differently. Their cutoff is Nov. 20, the day after launch, so GTA 6 can qualify there if jurors play it before they vote on nominees.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Golden Joystick Awards 2026?
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at the Troxy, a former movie palace in London. Run by British publisher Future, it's the games awards show where players pick most of the winners, and it lands a month ahead of The Game Awards, which air Dec. 10 from Los Angeles.
What time do the Golden Joystick Awards start?
Future hasn't announced a 2026 start time. The 2025 show began at 4 p.m. UK time, which was 11 a.m. ET and 8 a.m. PT. If the organizers stick with that slot, the stream would start around the same time on Nov. 11, but it isn't confirmed.
Where can I watch the Golden Joysticks?
For free on YouTube, Twitch and X, through the channels of Future, the company behind the awards. No subscription is required. Actor Alix Wilton Regan, who plays Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, hosts the live show from London.
Can I still vote in the Golden Joystick Awards 2026?
No. Voting in the 21 categories closed Oct. 23, and the Ultimate Game of the Year ballot closed Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. ET. Three awards, Critics' Choice, Breakthrough and Streamers' Choice, never went to a public vote and will be revealed during the show itself.
Which games are nominated for Ultimate Game of the Year?
There are 12: 007 First Light, Big Walk, Control Resonant, Crimson Desert, Dispatch, Forza Horizon 6, Phantom Blade Zero, Pokémon Pokopia, Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, Star Wars: Galactic Racer and The Blood of Dawnwalker. The winner comes from a public vote that closed Oct. 30.
Why isn't GTA 6 nominated at the Golden Joystick Awards?
It launches Nov. 19, and this year's eligibility window only covers games released by Oct. 25. It's also missing from Most Wanted Game, the award for the most anticipated game, which it won in 2025. GTA 6 can still qualify for The Game Awards, whose cutoff is Nov. 20.
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