The IGN Summer of Gaming is back for its seventh year, and there are so many big moments to look forward to that promise to give us an exciting glimpse of the future of video games, from our very own IGN Live to the Xbox Games Showcase, State of Play, Summer Game Fest Watch Party, Wholesome Direct, and more. With so much going on, we wanted to create this guide to ensure you won’t miss a thing. We’ll be updating this regularly as more events are announced and revealed!
How to Watch the Summer of Gaming 2026 Streams
If you’d like to watch all these big showcases we’ll detail below along with us, here are all the platforms you can do so from the comfort of your very own home:
- IGN.com
- IGN's YouTube
- Steam
- Twitter / X
- Twitch
- IGN mobile apps
- Eurogamer
- VG247
- Rock Paper Shotgun
Is IGN Live Returning in 2026?
Yes! IGN Live is set to take place both in-person at the Magic Box @ The Reef in Downtown LA and online on June 6-7. While we’d love to have you join us in person, we’ll also be streaming the biggest moments from both days of IGN Live. To learn more, check out how you can get tickets to the live event, the schedule, the guest lineup and celebrity appearances planned, and how you can watch the festivities from the comfort of your home.
Summer of Gaming 2026 Schedule and What to Expect
You can find the current schedule for IGN’s Summer of Gaming below, but we do want to note that this list will be updated regularly with new shows, details, dates, and more!
Monday, June 1
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The MIX Summer Game Showcase - 9am PT/12pm ET/2pm BST
This event is both online and in-person and aims to help raise visibility for developers and publishers from around the world. -
Midsummer Night’s Scream: A Horror Game Awards Showcase - 11am PT/2pm ET/4pm BST
This show promises over 100 games, over 50 world premieres, and a run time of over two hours! It will take viewers on a terrifying yet exciting journey through the biggest horror games coming out in 2026 and beyond.
Tuesday, June 2
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Black Voices in Gaming - 12pm PT/3pm ET/5pm BST
Returning in 2026, this event will share a global collection of upcoming indie titles, interviews and gameplay, and developer deep dives from Black creators. -
Sony State of Play - 2pm PT/5pm ET/7pm BST
PlayStation’s latest State of Play aired on June 2 and provided an extended look at Marvel’s Wolverine, the exciting reveal of God of War Laufey, and a ton of other games headed to PlayStation 5 in 2026 and beyond.
Thursday, June 4
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Latin American Games Showcase - 2pm PT/5pm ET/7pm BST
Tune into this special broadcast to learn more about 80 of the best and brightest games (15 release date reveals and nine world premieres!) and developers from Latin America, including Shade Protocol, Kernel Hearts, Colorbound, Sigils of Nightfall, and Tenebris Somnia. -
Woman-Led Games: Summer Game Fest - 4pm PT/7pm ET/9pm BST
This showcase puts the well-deserved focus on women-led and majority-women studios making some truly remarkable games. There will also be another one in the winter with The Game Awards.
Friday, June 5
- Summer Game Fest 2026 Watch Party
Tune in at 1:30PM PT for our IGN Summer of Gaming Pre-Show ahead of our Summer Game Fest 2026 Watch Party. We'll be discussing some of the biggest gaming announcements of the summer, as well as showcasing the latest gaming trailers and reveals.
Saturday, June 6
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Wholesome Direct - 9am PT/12pm ET/2pm BST
The most wholesome of all the Summer of Gaming showcases returns for its seventh edition, as the Wholesome Direct promises to provide a place to learn about uplifting, joyful, and hopeful games. This time, there will be over 50 games from such studios as Frontier, NPC Studio, Stray Fawn Studio, Spry Fox, and more. -
IGN Live Day 1 - 12:15pm PT/3:15pm ET/5:15 BST
IGN Live is nearly here, and it is set to take place both in-person at the Magic Box @ The Reef in Downtown LA and online. Yes, we’ll be streaming the biggest moments from both days of IGN Live to ensure you won’t miss a thing. Day 1 will feature Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, Backyard Baseball, Control Resonant, Jackass: Best and Last, 007 First Light / Hitman, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Trek’s 60th anniversary celebrations, ID@Xbox, The Death of Robin Hood, and more. -
Frosty Games Fest 2026 - 3pm PT/6pm ET/8pm BST
The Frosty Games Fest is here to provide updates from over 50 of the coolest upcoming games made in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Sunday, June 7
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IGN Live Day 2 - 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET/2:30pm BST
IGN Live is nearly here, and it is set to take place both in-person at the Magic Box @ The Reef in Downtown LA and online. Yes, we’ll be streaming the biggest moments from both days of IGN Live to ensure you won’t miss a thing. Day 2 will feature My Adventures with Superman, a watch party and reaction to the Xbox Games Showcase, Adventure Time: Side Quests, Magic: The Gathering, Poppy Playtime, Rick and Morty, Big Brother, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, and more. -
Xbox Games Showcase and Gears of War: E-Day Direct - 10am PT/1pm ET/3pm BST
Xbox is set to showcase the future games of its many studios, and we know for sure Gears of War: E-Day will be there, as it is getting a dedicated direct right after the main show. Beyond that, we could get a new look at Fable, the Halo: Combat Evolved remake, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Overwatch, Diablo 4, The Elder Scrolls 6, and so many more.
Wednesday, June 17
- State of Unreal - 7am PT/10am PT/12pm BST
This event is a must-watch for fans of Unreal Engine and the many games that use it. It promises to highlight the latest developments, tools, and games using the engine.
