Google I/O 2026 conference set for May 19 and 20

Google has announced the dates for its annual developer conference, Google I/O 2026. The event will take place on May 19 and 20, with keynotes and select sessions-including the traditional opening keynote packed with major announcements-available to stream live for free.

While Google I/O primarily targets developers, it’s at this event that Google usually unveils big upcoming changes to Android that eventually impact tens of millions of users. This year, a heavy focus is expected on Google’s AI advances, including expanded plans for its Gemini platform.

As in previous years, Google revealed the conference dates only after enough users completed a special puzzle on the I/O website. For 2026, this interactive challenge consists of several “builds” mini-games, all of which incorporate Gemini in some way.

See you all at Google I/O starting May 19th! https://t.co/KgNKbb3nMu pic.twitter.com/OD6x3IYtTi

Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai)

The first mini-game is a virtual mini-golf where a Gemini-based caddy offers the most neutral and cautious advice possible. The second is a nonogram puzzle familiar to Picross fans: players logically fill a grid to reveal an image. Here, Gemini generates nearly endless puzzle variations.

The remaining three mini-games are called Word Wheel, Super Sonicbot, and Stretchy Cat. Word Wheel uses Gemini 3 to automatically create game levels. In Super Sonicbot, Gemini manages a microphone mechanic where ambient noise controls how high an Android bot flies. Stretchy Cat sees Gemini 3 acting as a “level designer,” balancing difficulty and gameplay mechanics to provide infinite replayability.