It's time to break out of your eggnog-filled fog because 2026 has officially arrived. The year has already been filled with dozens of reliable blockbusters, from Marvel's Wolverine To Grand Craft Auto 6. But there are still many gaps to be filled in this year's calendar, and many questions loom for 2027. If you want to stay up to date on what's next in gaming in 2026 and beyond, these are the major gaming calendar events you should keep in mind.
We will update this article periodically throughout the year as new game events are added.
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026
When: January 6–9
Exhibition in Las Vegas, spawned the now-dead E3 still lives on, and while it's no longer a hotbed of new game announcements, there are usually plenty of discoveries of interest to professional PC gamers. Listings here often include new GPUs, monitors, Steam Deck and Steam Machine alternatives, and more accessories than you can imagine. We can also expect a huge number of third-party peripherals, including gadgets for audiophiles and VR/AR/XR enthusiasts.
New York Game Awards 2026
When: January 17–18.
The New York Video Game Critics Circle (NYVGCC) will host a two-day event in Manhattan, including an exclusive Supergiant Games: Unplugged concert and annual awards ceremony. Critics Circle President Harold Goldberg and former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé will co-host the latter, and we expect a more eclectic group of nominees from this jury than Vintage Game Awards at the end of last year.
DICE Summit 2026
When: February 10–12
The annual Las Vegas event has gained greater prominence in recent years, although it remains primarily a domestic baseball event for industry insiders. There are usually several noteworthy interviews and discussions that come out of the conference, and this annual awards ceremony enjoys special honor – it is, in fact, a jury of game developers honoring their colleagues. Again, DICE isn't a huge source of information about games, but it can offer a look at the trends and issues developers are thinking about for the coming year.
Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026
When: March 9-13
In recent years, GDC has traditionally focused more on the industry side of things, but for 2026 it's taking a new approach, positioning itself as a “festival of games.” But it doesn't become a fan event like E3 did in its later years; One of the main goals is more affordable prices for beginners, indie developers and startups. Back in October, GDC Executive Director of Innovation and Growth Mark DeLura told Polygon organizers hope to host more high-profile speeches and debates. As with DICE, we're expecting some interesting interviews, soundbites and analysis from some of the industry's top minds, but little in the way of trailers and teasers.
PAX Vostok 2026
When: March 26-29
With a variety of game demos, musical performances, and a variety of intriguing performances from the industry's leading creators and innovators, PAX consistently ranks among the top fan- and community-focused gaming events. The indies have always been the focus of this Boston convention, although last year's show also featured big appearances from heavy hitters like Ancient Ring: The Kingdom of Night And Borderland 4.
BAFTA Games Awards 2026
When: April 17
With 17 categories, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards are considered one of the most prestigious awards in the gaming industry. The jury of 1,700 industry professionals consistently recognizes a wide range of games, prioritizing creative excellence over commercial success. BAFTA usually chooses a different GOTY winner than The Game Awards, although last year's victory Astro Bot was a rare exception.
BitSummit 2026
When: May 22-24
Japan's leading indie games festival is returning to Kyoto in 2026, with two days of the three-day event open to the public. Last year's BitSummit event it featured the inimitable Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, creator of Okami and Bayonetta. Hideki Kamiyaand director of the cult classic 428: Shibuya Fight There is Ishii.
Summer Games Festival 2026
When: June 5
Now we are entering the season of great discoveries. The successor to E3 returns to Los Angeles in 2026, now with chic new place in Hollywood: The Dolby Theater, where the Oscars have been held since 2002. A highlight will be the presentation hosted by Geoff Keighley, which will include plenty of game announcements and updates. This is usually the time when publishers and developers fill out the release calendar for the second half of the year, so expect to hear about the major fall games as well as the games due out in 2027. Press and influencers will be able to play some of the games shown during the presentation in the coming days, so expect a steady stream of news throughout the week.
The Summer Game Fest isn't the only early June event that's causing a stir. IN 2025the show was hosted by the PlayStation State of Play presentation and the Xbox showcase. Around the same time, there is a Developer Day event that highlights new indie games. We'll also likely see a few third-party and indie publishers hosting their own livestreams, although none of that has been confirmed yet.
Championship series “Evolution” (Evo) 2026
When: June 26-28
The fighting game community's largest tournament takes place every summer in Las Vegas. In addition to competitive play at the highest level in games such as Street Fighter 6, Guilty Gear StriveAnd Tekken 8Evo often sees launch new playable demos, roster additions, beta tests, crossovers and other in-game events.. Happy long-awaited Marvel Tokon: Clash of Souls will be released sometime in 2026 and will likely be the main focus of this year's event.
ChinaJoy 2026
When: July 31 – August. 3
Asia's largest annual gaming and digital entertainment expo will take place in Shanghai, as China continues to grow in the AAA space with games like Game Science. Black Myth: WukongThe event is becoming increasingly famous internationally. Sony had a significant presence at the 2025 event and the company Chinese Heroes Initiative The company's goal is to bring games developed in China to a wider audience. Expect a fresh take on Black Myth: Zhong Kui here, along with other flashy games, they gain some shine.
