Google I/O 2026 live — Gemini upgrades, Android XR, and more of what to expect from today's big software showcase

Is it that time of year again? Google I/O 2026 kicks off today, with the two-day software showcase set to run from May 19 to May 20.

Google tends to reveal its biggest announcements at an introductory keynote, which takes place today at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (or 3am AET tomorrow if you're reading from Australia), and we'll be following along with that event here.

Google already teased a host of Android 17 upgrades during its recent Android Show broadcast, so we're expecting today's announcements to focus on Gemini, Search, and Android XR specifically. Might we finally see some fully-fledged Android XR-powered smart glasses released for sale? It's about time...

We've rounded up the 5 biggest things to expect at Google I/O 2026 elsewhere on TechRadar, but stick with us here for a beat-by-beat breakdown of the event itself.

Written by

Axel is TechRadar's Phones Editor, responsible for covering the latest developments in mobile hardware and software. He's based in London, but has reported on stories from the US, China, South Korea, and Europe, and you'll find his byline on over 1,500 TechRadar articles.

Google I/O 2026 — how to watch

Google's I/O 2026 keynote kicks off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST, or 3am AET on May 20, and you can tune into proceedings via the above YouTube link.

If you hit the ‘Notify Me’ button on the full YouTube page, you’ll also get a reminder when the event is about to start, and 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.

Google I/O 2026 — what to expect

We don't know for sure what Google is cooking up for I/O 2026, but we can make some pretty confident predictions based on various leaks and rumors:

• A new Google Gemini agent — possibly called Remy — is reportedly in the works; it'll supposedly run digital errands, monitor routines, and help connect you with apps and services
• Google has been teasing its Android XR-powered smart glasses for a long time now — might we finally see them unveiled at I/O 2026?
• AI Search dominated Google I/O 2025, so it tracks that Google will again reveal upgrades to Search at I/O 2026
• We could get our first look at Aluminum OS, a unified operating system that will supposedly merge Android and ChromeOS into one platform
• Google already told us what to expect from Android 17 at The Android Show, but Gemini Intelligence could get another chance to shine at I/O

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As for where Google I/O is taking place, it'll kick off — like always— at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. That's basically Google's version of the Steve Jobs Theater, which, by the way, is just a 16-minute drive away. Keep an eye out for Apple CEO John Ternus peeking over the fence.

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Google I/O is typically reserved for software announcements, so we're not expecting much in the way of hardware news from today's event. But if you are wondering about the company's latest physical products, Google recently launched a super slim screenless fitness tracker, the Fitbit Air.

2026-05-19T15:33:14.013Z

Google-what?

The Googlebook was a real oddity of Google's The Android Show broadcast. Is it hardware? Is it software? Google's first Gemini-centric platform is, seemingly, a bit of both, but we're not entirely sure how it works just yet. Here's hoping we get a little more color on this new "intelligence system" at I/O 2026.

2026-05-19T15:23:13.225Z

Is it Android XR time?

Google has been teasing its Android XR smart glasses for what seems like forever at this point, but might we finally see them unveiled at I/O 2026? We make our predictions in the video above.

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As a reminder, Google's livestream kicks off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (or 3am AET tomorrow if you're reading from Australia), and you can tune in via the video link above.

I/O keynotes tend to run for between one and two hours, so expect things to be wrapped up by 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm BST / 5am AET.

Welcome to our Google I/O 2026 live blog! Stick with us as we predict what to expect from today’s big software showcase, before reporting on the event as it happens.