Tomorrow at 11:30 AM ET, one of gaming’s most wholesome traditions returns. Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 kicks off with a 30-minute pre-show before launching into a full week of nonstop speedruns, raising money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. This year’s event features first-time appearances from 2025’s biggest releases like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Hades II. There’s also a 70-person Super Mario 64 relay that sounds absolutely chaotic, plus someone beating Elden Ring bosses using a saxophone as their controller. Yes, really.
When and Where to Watch
AGDQ 2026 officially begins at 8:30 AM PT / 11:30 AM ET / 4:30 PM GMT on Sunday, January 4 with a kickoff show, followed immediately by speedrunner inkstar tearing through Super Mario Sunshine in an estimated 1 hour and 16 minutes. The event runs continuously – and we mean continuously, 24 hours a day – until Saturday, January 10 when it concludes with a Pokemon Emerald “pick-my-main” run where the audience gets to doom runner adef to use whatever starter Pokemon they vote for.
You can watch the entire marathon live on the official Games Done Quick Twitch channel. If you miss runs or want to rewatch highlights, the GDQ YouTube channel uploads individual speedruns within hours of completion. The schedule automatically adjusts to your local timezone on the official GDQ website, so you won’t miss your favorite runs due to time zone confusion.
The Must-Watch Highlights
With a week of nonstop gaming, there’s genuinely something for everyone. Here are some of the most anticipated runs based on community buzz and sheer absurdity factor.
Sunday, January 4
After the Super Mario Sunshine opener, things get wild fast. Astro Bot hits the schedule at 3:30 PM PT / 6:30 PM ET with a 2-hour, 20-minute any percent run. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker follows at 6:19 PM PT / 9:19 PM ET, with speedrunners completing the beloved GameCube classic in just 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Monday, January 5
Alan Wake II gets double representation with runs of both DLC episodes. Night Springs runs all episodes in 40 minutes starting at 9:14 PM PT (Sunday) / 12:14 AM ET, followed by The Lake House any percent in a blistering 17 minutes. Later, UFO 50 gets a various games showcase at 9:54 AM PT / 12:54 PM ET. The day closes with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – but with a twist. Two players will complete the any percent run using one controller simultaneously. That’s scheduled for 4:42 PM PT / 7:42 PM ET and estimated at 33 minutes.
Tuesday, January 6
Unicorn Overlord makes its AGDQ debut at 7:47 AM PT / 10:47 AM ET with an any percent story run in just 24 minutes. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster gets the speedrun treatment at 7:07 PM PT / 10:07 PM ET with an Ending A run. Silent Hill 2’s 2024 remake follows at 8:05 PM PT / 11:05 PM ET with a New Game Light Restricted run estimated at 2 hours and 5 minutes.
The Wild Card Runs
Some runs transcend normal speedrunning and become performance art. This year’s most absurd entries include Elden Ring played using a saxophone as the controller (20 minutes of boss showcase madness on January 11), Crazy Taxi’s Crazy Box mode with a live backing band providing the soundtrack (16 minutes on January 11), and the previously mentioned 70-person Super Mario 64 relay on January 10 where 70 different runners each complete one star.
| Game | Date/Time (ET) | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Sunshine | Sunday, Jan 4 – 12:00 PM | Any% |
| Astro Bot | Sunday, Jan 4 – 6:30 PM | Any% |
| Silent Hill 2 (2024) | Tuesday, Jan 6 – 11:05 PM | NG Light Restricted |
| Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | Friday, Jan 10 – 5:36 AM | Any% Easy (6+ hours) |
| Elden Ring (Saxophone) | Saturday, Jan 11 – 3:52 PM | Boss Showcase |
| Super Mario 64 | Saturday, Jan 10 – Time TBD | 70 Star, 70 Person Relay |
The Charity Component
AGDQ raises money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. Last year’s AGDQ raised over $2.5 million. Since GDQ events began in 2010, the organization has raised more than $57.3 million across 57 events from over 1 million unique donors. That’s genuinely staggering for a community-organized speedrunning marathon.
Donations during the event unlock incentives and bonuses. These range from choosing character names in RPGs to forcing runners to take harder routes, to adding bonus games to the schedule if certain funding milestones are hit. The donation tracker updates in real-time during runs, and watching donation totals skyrocket during particularly hype moments has become part of the AGDQ experience.
The New Games Making AGDQ Debuts
One of the most exciting aspects of each year’s AGDQ is seeing how speedrunners have already broken brand new games. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the gorgeous JRPG that just launched, will get its first AGDQ appearance with a run estimated at 2 hours. Hollow Knight: Silksong, the long-awaited sequel that finally released in 2025, joins the lineup. Hades II makes its debut. Even Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which only came out months ago, has both a standard run and a versus showdown scheduled.
Watching speedrunners absolutely demolish games that most people haven’t even finished yet is one of gaming’s great pleasures. These aren’t casual playthroughs – these are people who’ve spent hundreds of hours routing optimal strategies, finding skips, and practicing execution to the point where they can complete 40-hour games in under 2 hours.
Classic Nintendo Goodness
While new game debuts generate buzz, AGDQ always delivers classic Nintendo content. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart World, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, and multiple Super Mario titles fill the schedule. The event traditionally closes with a Super Metroid randomizer race, and this year appears to follow that tradition with the final Saturday night slot.
These classic runs serve multiple purposes. They’re comfort food for long-time GDQ viewers who’ve watched Mario and Zelda speedruns evolve over the years. They’re also great entry points for newcomers who might be intimidated by more complex modern games but understand the basics of platforming through Peach’s Castle or navigating Hyrule.
The In-Person Experience
AGDQ 2026 is happening at the Wyndham Grand in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from January 4-10. Over 2,600 attendees are expected, based on previous years’ numbers. The event includes both in-person and online speedruns, meaning some runners will be on-site while others participate remotely. This hybrid format became standard after COVID and has stuck around because it allows more international participants.
For those attending in person, AGDQ has evolved beyond just watching speedruns. Recent events have added Artist Alley sections where creators sell gaming-related art and crafts, live concerts from bands like The Megas, and various community activities. It’s become as much a convention as a speedrunning marathon, giving the community a chance to meet in person and celebrate their shared love of breaking games.
How GDQ Has Grown
Games Done Quick started in 2010 as a relatively small gathering of speedrunners who wanted to raise money for charity while showcasing their skills. Since then, it’s become a fixture of gaming culture. The two flagship events – Awesome Games Done Quick in January and Summer Games Done Quick in summer – run for seven consecutive days each. GDQ also hosts smaller marathons throughout the year, including Frame Fatales for women and non-binary speedrunners, and occasional special events like the 2024 Disaster Relief Done Quick for Hurricane Helene victims.
The production quality has increased dramatically over the years. What started as a handful of people streaming from someone’s house now features professional commentary, multiple camera angles, on-screen donation trackers, dedicated production teams, and seamless transitions between runs. Yet somehow it’s maintained the wholesome, community-focused vibe that made it special in the first place.
FAQs
When does AGDQ 2026 start?
AGDQ 2026 starts Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 8:30 AM PT / 11:30 AM ET / 4:30 PM GMT with a 30-minute kickoff show, followed by the first speedrun at 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET.
Where can I watch AGDQ 2026?
Watch live on the official Games Done Quick Twitch channel. Individual run VODs are uploaded to the GDQ YouTube channel usually within hours of completion.
How long does AGDQ run?
AGDQ runs continuously for seven days, 24 hours a day, from Sunday, January 4 through Saturday, January 10, 2026.
What charity does AGDQ support?
AGDQ raises money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Last year’s event raised over $2.5 million, and GDQ has raised over $57.3 million total since 2010.
What are the must-watch runs this year?
Highlights include the 70-person Super Mario 64 relay, Elden Ring played with a saxophone controller, Crazy Taxi with a live band, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and the classic finale runs on Saturday night.
Can I donate during the event?
Yes, donations are accepted throughout the marathon through the official GDQ website. Donations can unlock incentives like choosing character names, adding bonus runs, or making runners take harder routes.
Is AGDQ in person or online?
AGDQ 2026 is a hybrid event at the Wyndham Grand in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, featuring both in-person runners and remote participants streaming from around the world.
What’s the difference between AGDQ and SGDQ?
AGDQ (Awesome Games Done Quick) happens every January and benefits the Prevent Cancer Foundation. SGDQ (Summer Games Done Quick) happens in summer and benefits Doctors Without Borders. Both are week-long marathons.
Conclusion
Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 represents everything great about gaming culture. It’s skilled players showcasing years of practice and routing optimization. It’s a community coming together for a good cause. It’s 70 people somehow coordinating to play Super Mario 64 together. It’s watching someone beat Elden Ring bosses with a saxophone because why the hell not. Starting tomorrow at 11:30 AM ET, you can tune in for as much or as little as you want over the next week. Watch the new games getting demolished in record time. Watch the classic Nintendo runs that never get old. Watch the absolutely bonkers novelty runs that defy explanation. And if you can, throw a few bucks toward the Prevent Cancer Foundation while you’re at it. AGDQ is one of those rare internet events that’s genuinely wholesome, impressively skilled, and completely ridiculous all at once. Don’t miss it.