YouTube has announced a 24-hour livestream to celebrate the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, the next game in Rockstar Games' long-running series. The announcement came on November 12, 2026, as part of a launch-week partnership between YouTube and Rockstar. The game releases on November 19, 2026, and the marathon broadcast is timed to begin at midnight Eastern Time that same day.
The full schedule in Eastern Time:
| Date | Time (ET) | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| November 18, 2026 | 11:00 PM | RDCWorld pre-show starts |
| November 19, 2026 | 12:00 AM | 24-hour main livestream starts on youtube.com/youtube |
| November 20, 2026 | 12:00 AM | Main livestream is scheduled to end |
GTA 6 YouTube Livestream Start and End Times
The livestream opens with a pre-show before the main event. RDCWorld hosts the pre-show, which starts at 11:00 PM ET on November 18, one hour before the 24-hour broadcast begins. The main stream starts at 12:00 AM ET on November 19 and runs on YouTube's main channel.
Because the broadcast lasts 24 hours, it's scheduled to finish at 12:00 AM ET on November 20. YouTube hasn't published a separate end time, so treat that as the expected finish rather than a confirmed one.
The dates are easy to mix up. Promotional wording that pairs "24 hours" with November 18 at 11 PM ET can look like the full stream starts then. That 11 PM time belongs to the pre-show, so if you want the main broadcast, plan around midnight on November 19.
How to Watch the 24-Hour GTA 6 Launch Livestream on YouTube
- Go to youtube.com/youtube, the channel hosting the 24-hour broadcast.
- On YouTube's homepage, click the custom GTAVI logo, called the Yoodle, to jump straight into the global broadcast.
- Open the scheduled event page, "Launch Day: YouTube's 24 Hour GTAVI Livestream," at youtube.com/live/KY4DWumZffg before the broadcast starts so you can find it quickly.
All times are Eastern Time, so convert them to your local time before you plan your watch.
What the GTA 6 YouTube Livestream Includes
The 24-hour broadcast is built around live gameplay, podcasts from featured YouTubers and original content. It closes with live, on-the-ground coverage from Miami, where YouTubers and special guests will be part of the action. The broadcast is produced in partnership with Entropico.
YouTube hasn't published a minute-by-minute schedule, so the order of segments isn't known in advance. Launch-week content also continues on YouTube outside the livestream. YouTubers are posting videos from Miami that include tactical breakdowns, storytelling and behind-the-scenes access.
Who Is Appearing in the GTA 6 YouTube Livestream
YouTube names Caylus, Zhong and Kat, Jelly, Rivers, Jake Baldino and Cinna among the featured YouTubers, followed by "and more." The full lineup includes more than 30 YouTubers and streamers from over a dozen countries. Other names in the lineup include JuanSGuarnizo, Windah Basudara and Total Gaming.
YouTube hasn't published time slots for individual YouTubers, so you'll need to follow the broadcast to see when a particular name appears.
YouTube Live Gifts During the GTA 6 Launch Stream
YouTube Live is introducing five limited-edition, game-themed gifts for the launch. They include animations such as Wanted Stars, which pop up directly on screen during streams. Eligible viewers watching select livestreams can claim and send a Grand Theft Auto VI gift "on us" while supplies last.
These are YouTube Live features, not rewards inside Grand Theft Auto VI. The announcement doesn't mention any in-game item for watching the broadcast, and it doesn't promise a gift to every viewer. Because the gifts are only offered in select livestreams, not every stream will have them.
