GTA 6 can't win at the Golden Joystick Awards 2026
The Golden Joysticks take place on November 11, eight days before GTA VI launches. Why it misses out, and what it means for its awards season.
GTA VI won't be in the running at this year's Golden Joystick Awards. The 44th edition of GamesRadar+'s awards takes place on November 11, 2026, eight days before the game launches, so, according to GamesRadar+ itself, it can't compete in any category this year, Ultimate Game of the Year included.
The schedule
Date | What happens |
|---|---|
September 25 - October 23 | Voting for most categories |
October 26 - 30 | Ultimate Game of the Year voting |
November 11 | Golden Joystick Awards 2026 ceremony |
November 19 | GTA VI launches on PS5 and Xbox Series |
GTA VI will be eligible for the 45th awards in 2027. Last year, before it was even out, it picked up two awards: Most Wanted Game and Best Game Trailer, for Trailer 2.
No "Big Five" sweep
The most talked-about consequence is that GTA VI can't sweep the five major Game of the Year awards in a single cycle: the Golden Joysticks, The Game Awards, DICE, the Game Developers Choice Awards and the BAFTAs. Baldur's Gate 3 pulled it off, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 later matched it. The Golden Joysticks come first, and for GTA VI, too early.
The Game Awards is a different story: as we covered, GTA VI is eligible because it launches before the November 20 cut-off.
Our take
It's a calendar issue, not a quality one. The funny part is that GTA VI will compete at the 2027 Golden Joysticks a full year after launch, against games that will have already done the rounds elsewhere. Between early shows and spring ceremonies, GTA VI's awards season is going to last almost a year.
