Google I/O 2026 dates confirmed, here’s what to expect

Google has confirmed that its annual developer conference, Google I/O 2026, will be held on May 19 and 20 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, with a global livestream on io.google. The announcement sets the stage for two days of keynotes, technical sessions and product showcases. Read on to know what to expect from this year’s event.

The I/O puzzle tradition returns

In keeping with tradition, the road to the announcement featured an interactive online puzzle designed to unlock the event dates. Participants were invited to complete a series of collaborative mini games, with progress tied to community participation. Once enough players finished the challenges, the conference dates were revealed.

This year’s experience featured five builds powered by Gemini 3, each offering a different gameplay concept. From a mini golf challenge with an AI powered caddy to logic puzzles such as Nonogram and Word Wheel, the games demonstrated how Gemini can shape level design and in game feedback.

Other concepts included a sound controlled bot and a dynamically designed platformer, all reinforcing Google’s focus on AI driven creativity. Even after the reveal, the mini games remain accessible for those who want to explore them.

Google I/O 2026: What to expect?

Google I/O traditionally outlines the company’s software roadmap, and 2026 is expected to be no different. Android is likely to receive major attention, potentially including updates tied to Android 17, performance improvements, privacy enhancements and expanded developer tools. Historically, I/O also marks wider beta access for upcoming platform releases.

Artificial intelligence will be central to the conference. Google has indicated that updates across the Gemini ecosystem will be highlighted, spanning multimodal capabilities, tighter integration across apps and advancements that support both cloud and on device processing. Developer focused sessions are expected to cover best practices, safety frameworks and practical integration guidance.

Beyond Android and AI, announcements may extend to Chrome, web technologies, Wear OS and productivity tools. With more than three billion active Android devices globally as cited in past keynotes, decisions announced at I/O often shape the broader app and hardware ecosystem for the year ahead.

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Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for all the upcoming announcements from Google.