The biggest gaming event in Europe is almost here.

Before the Gamescom show floor opens in Cologne, Germany, the event will begin with its biggest digital showcase: Gamescom Opening Night Live.

Hosted by Geoff Keighley alongside Eefje "Sjokz" Depoortere, Opening Night Live will officially kick off Gamescom 2026 on August 25, 2026.

The showcase is expected to feature new game announcements, world premieres, gameplay footage, developer updates, and major reveals from across the gaming industry. Organizers have already confirmed appearances involving METRO 2039 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past.

Here's everything you need to know.

📅 When Is Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026?

Gamescom Opening Night Live takes place on:

August 25, 2026

The event takes place one day before the Gamescom exhibition officially opens.

Gamescom itself runs from:

August 26–30, 2026

in Cologne, Germany.

ONL therefore acts as the global digital opening ceremony for the event.

🎤 Who Is Hosting?

Opening Night Live will once again be hosted by:

Geoff Keighley

Keighley is the creator and host of several major gaming showcases, including The Game Awards and Summer Game Fest.

Joining him is:

Eefje "Sjokz" Depoortere

The esports presenter and host returns as co-host for Gamescom Opening Night Live.

The pair have previously hosted ONL together, making their return one of the familiar traditions of the Gamescom opening show.

🌍 What Is Opening Night Live?

Gamescom Opening Night Live is the major showcase that kicks off Gamescom.

Rather than being a traditional trade-show presentation, ONL is designed as a global entertainment event.

The showcase typically features:

• 🎮 New game announcements
• 🌎 World premieres
• 🎬 New trailers
• 🕹️ Gameplay demonstrations
• 🧑‍💻 Developer interviews
• 📅 Release-date announcements
• 🔥 Updates on already announced games

Gamescom organizers describe the 2026 show as a showcase featuring new announcements, world premieres, and updates from the international games industry.

📺 How Can You Watch?

Fans who aren't attending Gamescom in person will be able to watch the showcase online.

The official Gamescom broadcast will be available through platforms including:

• YouTube
• Twitch
• X
• Facebook

Geoff Keighley's channels will also carry the broadcast.

The event is designed to reach a global audience, with millions of viewers expected to follow the showcase online.

🚇 METRO 2039 Confirmed

One of the biggest confirmed games connected to ONL 2026 is:

METRO 2039

Deep Silver has officially confirmed that the next entry in the Metro series will appear at Gamescom 2026.

The game is being developed by 4A Games and returns players to the post-apocalyptic world of Moscow.

The official game description promises a single-player experience combining:

• Exploration
• Survival
• Combat
• Stealth

The game is currently scheduled for February 2027.

☢️ What Is METRO 2039?

METRO 2039 is the next major chapter in the post-apocalyptic Metro franchise.

The story takes players back into the dangerous underground world of Moscow.

Players will have to:

• Explore ruined environments
• Search for resources
• Fight hostile enemies
• Manage survival
• Use stealth
• Navigate the Metro

The game is being positioned as a major continuation of the series rather than a simple remaster or remake.

🐺 The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past

Another major confirmed appearance is:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past

CD PROJEKT RED officially announced that new information about the upcoming expansion will be revealed during Gamescom Opening Night Live.

This is particularly significant because Songs of the Past represents a new chapter for one of the most successful RPGs of the last decade.

⚔️ What Is Songs of the Past?

Songs of the Past is a new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Players will once again take control of:

Geralt of Rivia

The expansion is being co-developed by CD PROJEKT RED and Fool's Theory.

Unlike the original The Witcher 3 expansions, this new adventure is being developed specifically for modern platforms.

The expansion is scheduled for:

2027

on:

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S
• PC

🎬 Why The Witcher Reveal Matters

The Witcher 3 has already sold more than 60 million copies worldwide and won hundreds of awards.

The new expansion therefore represents an unusual return to a game that originally launched in 2015.

CD PROJEKT RED confirmed that more information would arrive in late summer 2026, with Gamescom providing the first major showcase for the expansion.

For longtime fans, ONL could therefore provide one of the most unexpected RPG reveals of the event.

🌌 Final Fantasy VII Revelation: What We Know

Another major game expected to generate discussion around Gamescom is:

Final Fantasy VII Revelation

However, there is an important distinction.

It is not currently confirmed as an Opening Night Live appearance.

Square Enix officially lists Final Fantasy VII Revelation as the third part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake project.

The game was announced earlier in 2026 and is currently targeting 2027.

Director Naoki Hamaguchi is leading the project.

❗ Is Final Fantasy VII Revelation Confirmed for ONL?

No official confirmation was found.

While the game is one of the biggest upcoming RPGs and would make an obvious candidate for a Gamescom appearance, it should not be described as a confirmed ONL game unless Square Enix or Gamescom officially announces it.

That distinction matters because Gamescom frequently keeps major surprises secret until the actual broadcast.

For now:

🎮 More Games Could Still Appear

The confirmed lineup doesn't necessarily represent everything that will appear during the broadcast.

Opening Night Live traditionally contains surprise announcements and world premieres.

Gamescom organizers have specifically emphasized that viewers should expect:

• World premieres
• New announcements
• Updates
• Trailers
• Major industry news

This means the final lineup could be significantly larger than the currently confirmed games.

🏢 Gamescom 2026 Is Huge

Opening Night Live is only the beginning.

Gamescom 2026 runs from August 26 through August 30 and includes one of the largest collections of publishers and developers ever assembled at the event.

Confirmed companies include major names such as:

• Xbox
• Nintendo
• SEGA
• Ubisoft
• Electronic Arts
• Bandai Namco
• Capcom
• HoYoverse
• NetEase
• CD PROJEKT RED
• Deep Silver

The exhibition space for 2026 has reportedly sold out completely.

🟢 Xbox at Gamescom

Xbox is preparing an especially large presence.

Microsoft has confirmed a booth featuring:

25 upcoming games

and approximately:

140 gaming stations

Visitors will be able to play upcoming titles including:

• METRO 2039
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
• Minecraft Dungeons II
• Gears of War: E-Day
• STRANGER THAN HEAVEN
• Alien: Isolation 2

and more.

The Xbox presence is also part of Microsoft's celebration of 25 years of Xbox.

🕹️ METRO 2039 at the Xbox Booth

The Xbox presence is particularly important for METRO 2039.

Players attending Gamescom will have an opportunity to experience the game ahead of its February 2027 release.

The Xbox version is being optimized for:

• Xbox Series X
• Xbox Series S
• PC
• Supported gaming handhelds

This makes Gamescom one of the first major opportunities for the public to get hands-on with the new Metro experience.

🎮 The Gamescom Experience

Gamescom isn't just about watching trailers.

The event gives attendees the opportunity to:

• Play upcoming games
• Meet developers
• Watch demonstrations
• Attend presentations
• Explore publisher booths
• Participate in community activities

CD PROJEKT RED, for example, will have guided presentations of Songs of the Past on its Gamescom show floor.

📅 Gamescom 2026 Schedule

The exact programming varies between business, media, and public days.

🔥 Why Opening Night Live Matters

ONL has become one of the industry's biggest annual gaming showcases.

Its position immediately before Gamescom gives publishers an enormous global audience.

For developers, it is an opportunity to:

Reveal a new game

A completely new project can receive worldwide attention within minutes.

Show new gameplay

Existing projects can demonstrate how development has progressed.

Announce release information

Developers can finally provide release windows or dates.

Generate hype

A strong trailer can dominate gaming discussions for days.

🧠 The Biggest Question: What Is Being Kept Secret?

The confirmed games already make ONL worth watching.

But the biggest announcements may be the ones that haven't been revealed yet.

That's part of what makes Opening Night Live different from a normal publisher showcase.

Even when several games are announced ahead of time, the event usually keeps space for:

Surprise announcements.

World premieres.

Unexpected trailers.

Release-date reveals.

And potentially:

Games nobody knows about yet.

📊 Gamescom Opening Night Live at a Glance

🗓️ Important Games to Watch

🚇 METRO 2039

Release: February 2027

A new post-apocalyptic FPS from 4A Games.

⚔️ The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past

Release: 2027

A new expansion returning players to Geralt's world.

🌌 Final Fantasy VII Revelation

Release: 2027

The third part of Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake project, but not currently confirmed for ONL.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When is Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026?

August 25, 2026. Gamescom itself begins on August 26.

Who hosts Opening Night Live?

Geoff Keighley hosts the show with Eefje "Sjokz" Depoortere as co-host.

Where can I watch it?

The showcase will be livestreamed through official Gamescom and Geoff Keighley channels, including YouTube and Twitch.

Is METRO 2039 confirmed?

Yes. Deep Silver has confirmed that METRO 2039 will be featured at Gamescom 2026.

Is The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past confirmed?

Yes. CD PROJEKT RED has officially confirmed new information about the expansion for Opening Night Live.

Is Final Fantasy VII Revelation confirmed for ONL?

No. The game is confirmed to exist and is targeting 2027, but I could not verify an official announcement confirming it for Opening Night Live.

When does Gamescom 2026 end?

Gamescom runs through August 30, 2026.

🏁 The Bottom Line

Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest gaming showcases of the summer.

The event officially begins on August 25, with Geoff Keighley and Eefje "Sjokz" Depoortere leading the presentation.

Two major appearances are already confirmed:

METRO 2039

and

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past

Meanwhile, games such as Final Fantasy VII Revelation remain potential candidates rather than confirmed ONL appearances.

And that's exactly why the showcase is worth watching.

The confirmed lineup is only part of the story.

The real question is:

What will Geoff Keighley reveal when the cameras finally go live?