Google I/O 2026 will run May 19-20, with the main keynote kicking off at 1 p.m. ET on May 19. The two-day event will be held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, with livestreams available on Google's website and YouTube channel. Developers can register for free attendance through a lottery system, though watching online requires no registration.

This year's conference arrives at a pivotal moment for Google as the company reportedly works on multiple operating systems. Android 17 will obviously dominate discussions, with expected updates for foldables, large-screen devices, and desktop-style Android computing. The OS may also see subtle visual refinements including iOS-inspired blur and glass effects.

Android XR is poised for significant stage time as Samsung's Galaxy XR headset launches and more XR hardware enters the market. Google's rumored smart glasses collaboration with Samsung could debut here as well. Of course, Gemini will remain central to the conversation with deeper integrations across Search, Chrome, Workspace, and Android experiences. Android Central will provide live coverage from the keynote and host a real-time blog for those following along remotely.