Gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live: Start Time, Date and What to Expect

Gamescom 2026 is almost here, and Opening Night Live will once again kick off the main event from Cologne before the exhibition floor opens.

The show takes place on Tuesday, August 25, hosted by Geoff Keighley alongside Eefje “sjokz” Depoortere. Gamescom’s own 2026 press material confirms the pair will front the showcase, which is set to feature new announcements, world premieres and updates from across the games industry.

The main broadcast starts at 11:00 a.m. PDT / 2:00 p.m. EDT / 7:00 p.m. BST / 8:00 p.m. CEST, with a 30-minute pre-show beginning at 10:30 a.m. PDT / 1:30 p.m. EDT / 6:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 p.m. CEST. GamesRadar’s current Gamescom schedule lists the same times.

For viewers in India, the main show begins at 11:30 p.m. IST. In Japan, it starts at 3:00 a.m. JST on Wednesday, August 26.

Gamescom itself runs August 26 through August 30 at Koelnmesse in Cologne. According to Gamescom’s official 2026 information, August 26 is the trade visitor and media day.

A few Opening Night Live appearances are already public. Gamescom has officially confirmed updates involving METRO 2039 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past. GamesRadar also reports that Final Fantasy VII Revelation will appear with game director Naoki Hamaguchi.

That still leaves plenty under wraps. Opening Night Live is built around trailers, world premieres, gameplay reveals and surprise announcements, so the complete lineup is unlikely to be known before the broadcast begins.

The show will stream online through the official Gamescom channels, including YouTube and Twitch.