Google I/O 2026 is kicking off today, and it’s worth tuning into, because we’re expecting big announcements covering both hardware and software.

These could include smart glasses running Android XR, a closer look at the new Googlebook platform, and much more.

You’ll find full details of what to expect further down, but first, here’s how — and when — to actually watch Google I/O 2026 as it happens.

How to watch Google I/O 2026

Google I/O 2026 is taking place on May 19 and May 20, at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. But as with most tech announcements, there’s no need to attend in person to watch this.

While there will be various speeches and sessions across those two days, the most significant event is the Google keynote, which starts at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST on May 19, or 3am AEST on May 20 for those of you in Australia. It’s here that we’re expecting most of the major announcements to be made.

Fortunately, the event will be streamed on Google’s YouTube page, or you can simply watch it via the embedded YouTube video below. If you hit the ‘Notify Me’ button on the video, you’ll also get a reminder when the event is about to start.

But if you can’t tune in live, don’t worry — the video will almost certainly remain up, so you can watch it after the fact. Or simply check out TechRadar’s front page for all the news and announcements from the event, along with our expert impressions.

What to expect at Google I/O

We have a full guide covering what to expect at Google I/O 2026, but in brief, it’s likely that AI will play a big role, with the agentic Gemini Intelligence probably getting a second showing, and the rumored Gemini Remy also possibly going to make an appearance. Remy is reportedly designed to work in the background 24/7, carrying out tasks for you with minimal oversight.

We’ll likely also see hardware that can make use of these AI tools, including Googlebook laptops and the Google Home Speaker — both of which have already been teased but aren’t yet available. In the case of the Google Home Speaker, we might finally get an exact release date, too.

And it’s likely that some Android XR devices — including smart glasses and possibly headsets — will make an appearance. So far, you can only get Android XR on the Samsung Galaxy XR, but we know that multiple pairs of smart glasses running this operating system are in the works.

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James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.