Disney+ will carry The Game Awards live for the first time on Thursday, Dec. 10, adding another way to watch the ceremony and its new-game reveals. The opening act starts at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Central, 5:30 p.m. Mountain and 4:30 p.m. Pacific. Geoff Keighley returns as host at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

The Disney+ announcement adds a streaming outlet to a date the organizer announced in August. Disney says the broadcast will include announcements from some of its upcoming games alongside the ceremony’s other premieres. It did not identify those games in Thursday’s announcement.

How to watch without Disney+

The organizer’s viewing FAQ says the live show is available free on its major streaming outlets. UPI confirmed that the official YouTube and Twitch channels will still carry it. If you already have Disney+, you can watch there. If you only want to see the awards, either of the free channels gives you a way to watch without taking out a subscription.

The start time is for the opening act. The organizer lists the ceremony, game premieres and musical performances as parts of the same show. Its homepage also links to last year’s replay, where viewers can see how the event mixes acceptance speeches with trailers and live music. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year in 2025.

When you can vote

The organizer lists the 2026 nominees as coming in mid-November. Once nominations and voting open, fans can cast ballots at TheGameAwards.com. The deadline listed in the rules is Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 9 p.m. Eastern or 6 p.m. Pacific, the evening before the show. The organizer says the jury accounts for 90% of the blended vote and fans for 10%. That means a game can lead the public vote and still lose an award decided by the blend.

The rules also list different eligibility dates. The general commercial release cutoff is Nov. 20 at 9 p.m. Pacific. Games in the Players’ Voice category can ship through Nov. 30. Publicly available early-access games can qualify under the general rules, and the jury can consider expansions and major updates.

If you want to attend in person, the Peacock Theater listing says doors open at 3:30 p.m. Pacific, an hour before the opening act. The organizer says public tickets are limited. The venue directs buyers to AXS or its box office for general and accessible seating. Check the venue’s listing for current availability before making a trip downtown.