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Golden Joystick Awards 2026: How to Vote and When Voting Closes
October 14, 2026·3 min read
Voting for the 44th Golden Joystick Awards is open across 21 categories until October 23, followed by a separate Ultimate Game of the Year ballot.
Voting is now open for the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards, allowing players to choose winners across 21 publicly voted categories. The main voting period runs until October 23, while Ultimate Game of the Year will receive its own separate voting window later in the month.
The 44th Golden Joystick Awards ceremony takes place on November 11, 2026, at Troxy in London. Winners will be revealed during the live show, which will also be streamed online.
How to Vote in the Golden Joystick Awards 2026
Voting takes place through the official Golden Joystick Awards page on GamesRadar. You do not need to attend the ceremony to participate.
- Open the official Golden Joystick Awards voting page.
- Select Start Voting.
- Work through the available categories and choose your preferred nominee in each one.
- Continue through the voting form until you reach the submission screen.
- Submit your selections to register your votes.
Players are offered the option to enter an email address after voting to claim a free gaming ebook. The ebook offer is optional, so you can still register your votes without signing up for it.
When Does Golden Joystick Awards Voting Close?
Voting for the initial 21 categories closes on October 23 at 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET, which is midnight BST going into October 24.
Ultimate Game of the Year is not included in the current voting form. Its nominees will be announced on October 26, with a separate public vote running from October 26 through October 30.
That later voting period allows games released closer to the awards to remain eligible for the biggest public-voted category.
All Public-Voted Categories for 2026
The initial Golden Joystick Awards ballot contains 21 categories:
| Category | Other Categories |
|---|---|
| Best Storytelling | Best Multiplayer Game |
| Best Visual Design | Best Indie Game |
| Best Indie Game - Self Published | Still Playing Award - PC and Console |
| Still Playing Award - Mobile | Best Remake / Remaster |
| Studio of the Year | Best Game Expansion |
| Best Audio Design | Best Soundtrack |
| Best Lead Performer | Best Supporting Performer |
| PC Game of the Year | Console Game of the Year |
| Best Early Access Game | Best Gaming Hardware |
| Best Game Adaptation | Best Game Trailer |
Ultimate Game of the Year becomes the 22nd publicly voted category when its separate ballot opens on October 26.
When Will the Winners Be Announced?
The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 ceremony takes place on Wednesday, November 11 in London. The event returns as an in-person show at Troxy, while viewers outside the venue will be able to follow the ceremony through its online broadcast.
This year's awards cover games, studios, performers, hardware and ongoing releases from across the previous year. Players who want to influence the main categories need to submit their first-round votes before October 23, then return between October 26 and October 30 if they also want to vote for Ultimate Game of the Year.
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