GTA 6 PS5

Here's one Game of the Year award GTA 6 can't win in 2026: the Console Game of the Year at the Golden Joysticks.

The awards show has today revealed its lineup of nominees for each accolade it has to offer, and GTA 6 is absent. Why? Because the Golden Joysticks take place eight days before the game is even out. Reviewers will still be playing the game at that point, and nominations for the awards had to be submitted by 28th August anyway.

As long as the next Rockstar open worlder lives up to the hype, it's expected to scoop up most GOTY awards for 2026. It can still do that, but without a Golden Joysticks award, it can't do a complete clean sweep of the "big five" Game of the Year gongs.

Those are the Golden Joysticks, The Game Awards, the DICE Awards, the GDC Awards, and the BAFTAs.

Only two games have managed to win all those awards show in their release year: Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

GTA 6 can win them all except for the Golden Joysticks, though its late November release means it'll be eligible for the 2027 version of the awards show.

With no GTA 6 to nominate, the following titles are up for the Console Game of the Year award at the Golden Joysticks:

007 First Light and Big Walk have received the most nominations — five each — including Best Storytelling and Best Soundtrack for the former and Best Indie Game and Best Multiplayer Game for the latter. You can view the full list of awards and nominations through the link, and then place your votes.

What game from the above list deserves the GOTY accolade most? Do you think GTA 6 will sweep all the other shows? Let us know in the comments below.