GTA 6 to Get a 24-Hour Global YouTube Livestream for Its Launch
YouTube and Rockstar Games will celebrate GTA VI's launch with a 24-hour global livestream on November 19, 2026. The broadcast will combine live gameplay, creator podcasts and original content, with an RDCWorld pre-show and a closing segment featuring live coverage from Miami.
The partnership was announced on the official YouTube Blog on November 12. Alongside the broadcast, YouTube is preparing themed virtual gifts, a Shorts effect and a launch-week showcase for the official soundtrack on YouTube Music.
When it starts: Eastern Time and the times in Spain
The marathon starts at 12:00 a.m. ET on November 19. Under the winter time zones in effect that day, that is 6:00 a.m. in mainland Spain and 5:00 a.m. in the Canary Islands. The pre-show begins an hour earlier, at 11:00 p.m. ET on November 18; in Spain, it will already be the early morning of November 19.
These are YouTube broadcast times. To prepare your download or check when your copy of the game unlocks, use our separate GTA VI pre-load and release-time article.
| Programming | US Eastern Time (ET) | Mainland Spain | Canary Islands |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDCWorld pre-show | November 18, 11:00 p.m. | November 19, 5:00 a.m. | November 19, 4:00 a.m. |
| 24-hour livestream | November 19, 12:00 a.m. | November 19, 6:00 a.m. | November 19, 5:00 a.m. |
Gameplay, podcasts and creators, ending with coverage from Miami
RDCWorld will host the pre-show leading into the main broadcast. YouTube's announced participants include Caylus, Jelly, Rivers and Jake Baldino. Gameplay sessions will share the programme with conversations and original pieces, giving the 24-hour celebration several formats rather than following a single playthrough throughout.
The stream will finish with live coverage from Miami, connecting the online celebration to the city that inspires Vice City. The announcement outlines formats and participants without providing a complete hourly schedule for each creator. The official broadcast link is the place to follow the event.
Five virtual gifts and a Vice City effect for Shorts
YouTube Live will introduce five limited-edition virtual gifts themed around GTA VI. Eligible viewers in selected creator livestreams will be able to claim and send a gift at no cost while supplies last. These are features of the YouTube broadcast, rather than items or rewards delivered inside the game.
The GTAVI: Visit Vice City Shorts effect will let people make videos with backgrounds inspired by the city. It is another part of YouTube's launch celebration; its announcement does not add features to the game or describe a GTA VI photo mode.
The soundtrack on YouTube Music and 40 billion pre-launch views
The official GTA VI soundtrack will be featured on YouTube Music during launch week. Our guide to the game's songs, radio stations and soundtrack provides further context, separating known tracks from a complete music catalogue.
YouTube says videos related to GTA VI have already passed 40 billion views before release. That is the platform's own video-view total, rather than a count of unique viewers, pre-orders or copies sold. It sets the context for a celebration spanning livestreams, Shorts and music around the game's launch.
