Gamescom's Opening Night Live kicks off August 25

Gamescom 2026, the gaming expo held in Cologne, Germany, will once again open with the Opening Night Live showcase, set for August 25. The two-hour broadcast begins at 2PM ET, preceded by a 30-minute pre-show. Viewers don't need to attend in person — the event will be streamed online, including on YouTube and Twitch.

As in previous years, the show will be hosted by Geoff Keighley, best known for organizing The Game Awards and Summer Game Fest. While Opening Night Live tends to have fewer blockbuster reveals than Keighley's other events, it often includes some notable surprises.

Confirmed highlights

Organizers have already confirmed several segments, including a fresh look at Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, a story trailer for Gears of War: E-Day, an updated look at Silent Hill: Townfall, and the first glimpse of The Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past. Also expected are details on Valor Mortis, a first-person Soulslike from the Ghostrunner developers; Pony Island 2 from Inscryption creator Daniel Mullins; Path of Exile 2; Monster Hunter Outlanders; Metro 2039; and a new grand strategy title from Paradox Interactive. A release date for FromSoftware's Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods could also be announced, following a recent network test for the game.

Beyond the main showcase, Gamescom will host several other streams. Xbox will present its games with separate broadcasts on August 26 and 27, while CD Projekt Red will run day-long streams starting August 26 featuring previews, interviews and behind-the-scenes content. The Future Games Show airs August 26 at 1PM ET with more than 40 games, including 13 world premieres, followed the next day by an Awesome Indies showcase.