The speedrunning community just got the first official look at what’s coming to Awesome Games Done Quick 2026. Games Done Quick released the full games list on November 3, 2025, meaning speedrunners can finally see exactly which titles made the cut for the January 4-10 marathon in Pittsburgh. But here’s the exciting part – this isn’t the final list. A new game submission period just opened and stays open through November 10, specifically for games that released after September 1, 2025. If you’ve been racing through an indie darling that came out recently, there’s still a chance to get it on the schedule.
What Is AGDQ and Why It Matters
Awesome Games Done Quick has become the gold standard of speedrunning marathons. Every year in January, the best speedrunners in the world descend on a single location to run video games as fast as humanly possible, all while raising money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Last year, AGDQ 2025 raised over $2.5 million. The year before that, AGDQ 2024 pulled in over $2.5 million as well. Over the marathon’s 15-year history, these events have raised over $54 million for charity.
What makes AGDQ special isn’t just the speedrunning itself, though that’s incredible. It’s the community. Viewers at home donate money for incentives – you can pay to change a character’s name, to make runners attempt harder challenges, or to fund bonus races between games. The commentary is sharp, the energy is infectious, and the entire experience transforms gaming into appointment television for a week straight.
How the Games List Process Works
GDQ’s selection process is more sophisticated than just “games people asked for.” Speedrunners submit runs weeks in advance. The GDQ team evaluates these submissions based on several criteria: entertainment value, the skill ceiling, whether the run tells a compelling story, technical impressiveness, and community interest. Some games become AGDQ staples because they deliver consistently great entertainment. Others make it through because this year’s runner is bringing something entirely new to the experience.
The staggered submission period is particularly clever. The first submission window closed earlier, creating the main lineup. But because games release constantly, GDQ opened a second window specifically for titles that came out after September 1st. This means new indie hits from October and November can still make the cut if they’re ready for speedrunning and have a submitted runner.
What to Expect from AGDQ 2026
AGDQ 2026 runs January 4-10 in Pittsburgh at the Wyndham Grand Hotel. The event will be streamed live on Twitch as always, with dozens of runs scheduled across the seven days. Based on the pattern from previous AGDQs, you can expect a mix of everything: classic Nintendo games, iconic RPGs, modern indie darlings, randomizers, category extensions, relay races, and probably at least one “block” designed entirely around a specific theme or joke.
Past AGDQs have featured everything from speedrunners playing blindfolded to entire blocks dedicated to a single franchise. Sometimes GDQ uses donor incentives to create chaos – like having runners race simultaneously or making the game absurdly difficult. The unpredictability is part of the appeal. You never know when you’re about to witness speedrunning history.
Registration Is Still Open (But Not Forever)
If you want to attend AGDQ 2026 in person, registration is still open. A full week badge costs $125 and gives you access to the entire event. But act fast – registration closes on December 21, 2025 at 2:59 AM. That’s less than two months away. The event is held at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh, which served as the venue for AGDQ 2024 and 2025, so accommodations should be relatively straightforward if you’re flying in from out of state.
If you can’t make it in person, no problem. The entire event streams for free on Twitch and gets archived on YouTube almost immediately. The online community is massive – tens of thousands of viewers tune in every day, creating chat moments that become legendary in speedrunning circles.
| Event Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 |
| Dates | January 4-10, 2026 |
| Location | Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Benefiting | Prevent Cancer Foundation |
| Registration Cost | $125 for full week pass |
| Registration Deadline | December 21, 2025, 2:59 AM |
| Live Stream | Games Done Quick Twitch channel (free) |
| Games List Deadline | November 10, 2025 (new game submissions) |
The Community Around AGDQ
What makes AGDQ special goes beyond the event itself. The speedrunning community has exploded in the past decade, and AGDQ serves as the apex of that community. Speedrunners who are relatively unknown can become household names if their run goes viral during the marathon. Viewers donate not just because they enjoy speedrunning, but because they’ve found a community that values entertainment, charity, and pushing games to their limits.
The commentary teams are legendary. Couch commentators riff on the runner’s performance, the game’s history, and whatever ridiculous incentives the chat just funded. Runners interact with their communities throughout the year, and AGDQ becomes the culmination of months of preparation and practice. Some runners train for years to get a spot on the AGDQ lineup.
Recent GDQ Innovations
Games Done Quick hasn’t been resting on their laurels. In October 2025, they premiered “Games Done Queer,” a new speedrunning event highlighting LGBTQ+ runners while raising money for the Lambda Legal and Education Fund. That event featured over 30 speedruns and demonstrated GDQ’s commitment to growing the speedrunning community beyond just the flagship events.
This year, GDQ also continues to run specialized marathons like “Flame Fatales” (all-women runners) and various themed events throughout the year. AGDQ and SGDQ (Summer Games Done Quick) remain the biggest, but the organization is actively expanding what speedrunning marathons can be.
FAQs
When does AGDQ 2026 take place?
AGDQ 2026 runs January 4-10, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Wyndham Grand Hotel. The entire event will be streamed live on Twitch.
How can I watch AGDQ 2026?
AGDQ 2026 is completely free to watch online via the Games Done Quick Twitch channel. You can also attend in person by purchasing a registration pass ($125 for the full week) before December 21, 2025.
What games will be at AGDQ 2026?
The official games list was released November 3, 2025. A second submission window is open through November 10 for games released after September 1, 2025. You can check the full list on the Games Done Quick website.
How much money does AGDQ raise?
AGDQ 2025 raised over $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Across its 15-year history, Games Done Quick events have raised over $54 million for various charities.
Can I submit a speedrun for AGDQ 2026?
The main submission period for AGDQ 2026 is closed, but the new game submission period is open through November 10 for games released after September 1, 2025. Check the Games Done Quick website for submission details.
What is a speedrun?
A speedrun is playing a video game from start to finish in the fastest time possible. Runners memorize optimal strategies, find glitches, and execute frame-perfect moves to beat games as quickly as they can. AGDQ showcases the best speedrunners in the world competing in various games.
What are “incentives” at GDQ events?
Incentives are special modifications to runs that viewers can fund through donations. Common incentives include naming a save file, having runners attempt harder difficulty levels, or creating bonus races. Chat votes on which incentives to fund, adding an interactive element to the event.
Is there a community around speedrunning?
Absolutely. Speedrunning has exploded in popularity over the past decade. Communities exist on Twitch, Discord, Reddit, and dedicated forums. Speedrunners stream their practice runs, compete in ranked competitions, and collaborate with the community to optimize routes and strategies.
Conclusion
AGDQ 2026 is shaping up to be another incredible year of speedrunning excellence and charitable fundraising. With the games list officially released and a second submission period still open, the full lineup will be finalized by mid-November. If you’ve never tuned into a Games Done Quick event, AGDQ 2026 is the perfect opportunity. January 4-10 will feature seven days of incredible speedrunning, stunning feats of gaming mastery, and a global community united around entertainment and charity.
Whether you attend in person in Pittsburgh or stream from home, AGDQ 2026 promises to deliver the speedrunning excellence that fans have come to expect. Donation incentives will create memorable moments, runners will push games to their limits, and the Prevent Cancer Foundation will receive millions in donations from viewers who just wanted to watch some awesome games get beaten really fast. That’s the magic of Games Done Quick.