Gamescom's Opening Night Live starts at 8:00 pm in France

The Opening Night Live for gamescom 2026 is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25 at 8:00 pm Paris time. That's 2:00 pm on the US East Coast and 11:00 am on the West Coast. The event's official listing sets the live broadcast at two hours: wrap-up expected around 10:00 pm.

The broadcast is free and simulcast on YouTube, Twitch, and Steam. Geoff Keighley hosts, alongside Eefje « Sjokz » Depoortere. A pre-show hosted by Kyle Bosman opens the evening ahead of the main show: the official Game Awards channel has the launch of its stream set for 7:15 pm.

Two things to keep in mind before you block out your evening. The organizers don't release a detailed schedule in advance: the format relies on surprise announcements, trailers, and gameplay segments. And the video will remain available as a replay on the channel once the live broadcast ends, in case the timing doesn't work for you. As for the show itself, it opens its doors at Koelnmesse in Cologne from August 26 to 30, 2026.