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The Golden Joysticks 2026: Start time, nominees and how to watch

Heavy is the hand that holds the joystick.

The logo for the 44th Golden Joystick Awards taking place in 2026, next to a Golden Joystick statuette.

Future

Published: Wednesday, 11 November 2026 at 11:54 am

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Games industry awards season kicks off tonight as we look forward to the Golden Joysticks 2026!

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With plenty of incredible nominees to look forward to – not GTA 6, mind – it's probably going to be a tight race in many categories.

Whether any studios will be able to replicate Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's incredible clean sweep at last year's awards remains to be seen, but developers will be keeping their fingers crossed.

The Radio Times Gaming team will be there as media partners, covering the whole event from right there on the red carpet.

So, for all the details on the Golden Joysticks start time, how to watch and a full list of nominees, read on!

Golden Joysticks 2026: Date and start time

The Golden Joysticks Awards 2026 take place on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 6pm GMT / 10am PT / 1pm ET.

This year's event will be held at the Troxy in London's East End, with the whole show being streamed live online.

Unlike The Game Awards, the trailers aren't the focal point, with the night largely being devoted to doling out awards and celebrating the best of the best in the game industry!

How to watch the Golden Joysticks 2026

If you're not lucky enough to be at the Troxy on the night, then fret not, as the entire thing is available to watch online!

You can check it out via the GamesRadar YouTube channel, and to make things easier, we've popped a link to the stream right here:

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Who is hosting the Golden Joysticks 2026?

Alix Wilton Regan during the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards with Google Play at Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Alix Wilton Regan during the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards with Google Play at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Photo by Scott Garfitt/BAFTA via Getty Images

The Golden Joysticks 2026 will be hosted by Alix Wilton Regan, the actor who is set to play Lara Croft in next year's Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.

Last year saw Maggie Robertson host the show, best known as Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village, a role for which she won her own Golden Joystick back in 2021.

Throughout the evening, she was joined by a collection of special guest presenters including Alix Wilton Regan (Tomb Raider), Doug Cockle (The Witcher), Ciara Berkley (The Witcher 4), Ben Starr (Expedition 33, Final Fantasy 16) and more.

Full list of the Golden Joysticks 2026 nominees

The full list of nominees for the Golden Joysticks 2026 is as follows:

Ultimate game of the year

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Best early access game

Best visual design

Best multiplayer game

Still playing (mobile)

Most wanted game

PC game of the year

Console game of the year

Best indie game

Best game adaptation

Best remake / remaster

Best game trailer

Best supporting performer

Still playing (PC & console)

Best gaming hardware

Best game expansion

Best audio design

Best storytelling

Best soundtrack

Best lead performer

Best indie game – self published

Studio of the year

And that's all you need to know! We'll be sure to bring you plenty of coverage of the night itself, so stayed tuned for that, and make sure to follow Radio Times Gaming on your social media feed of choice.

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Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Alex Raisbeck, smiling against a lime green background.

Alex RaisbeckGaming writer

Alex Raisbeck is a Gaming Writer at Radio Times, covering everything from AAA giants to indie gems. Alex has written for VideoGamer, GamesRadar+, PC Gamer, PCGamesN and more.

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