Google I/O 2026 kicks off today: Where to watch Sundar Pichai's keynote live in India and what to expect

Google is all set to hold one of its biggest launches of this year tonight at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is expected to take the stage for the keynote address at I/O today as the tech giant unveils its biggest innovations in AI and other related fields.

Here's how you can catch the live-stream of I/O 2026 and what to expect from Google's biggest software event of the year.

How to watch Google I/O 2026?

I/O 2026 wil be streamed via Google's official YouTube channel for free. We have embedded the direct viewing link to the event in order to reduce the hassle to going on YouTube and parsing through various links to find the official live-stream.

The event will begin at 10:00am Pacific Time (PT) which translates to 10:30PM India time. We at Mint will also be covering the biggest updates from I/O 2026.

I/O 2026 schedule:

Google has officially revealed the schedule for Day 1 of I/O 2026 but the second day schedule is not yet available on the official website for the event yet. You can check out the timing for each session that has been revealed so far below.

What to expect from I/O 2026?

Google unveiled some of its biggest AI upgrades at I/O 2025 including AI Mode in Google Search, Veo 3 video generation model, Gemini 2.5 Pro AI model and Project Muhan. This year is expected to be no different with the leaks already giving us a hint at some of the biggest announcements that Google could make.

A recent report had suggested that Google has been quietly testing a number of AI models internally under names like Ajax, Hercules, Hector and Orpheus. These are expected to be codenames for upcoming models before their public debut.

2) Gemini Spark:

According to a report by 9to5Google, Google may be preparing to give Gemini stronger agentic capabilities that go beyond answering questions. The feature is reportedly being developed under the ‘Gemini Spark’ branding and could allow the AI assistant to take actions on behalf of users.

If the reports turn out to be true, Gemini may be able to handle tasks such as cleaning up cluttered inboxes by summarising or archiving newsletters, generating meeting summaries and building personalised news briefings that continue tracking stories over time.

3) Gemini Omni:

Leaks have also pointed to Google experimenting with a new video-generation system called ‘Gemini Omni’. The model surfaced after a Reddit user shared a screenshot showing the feature listed inside the Gemini app.

The accompanying description for the model hinted at a broader set of creative tools, suggesting users may be able to remix videos, edit clips directly within chats and work with built-in templates. It isn't currently clear if the model will be a part of the Veo series of video generation models or a separate new effort.

4) Gemini Live:

A report by Forbes also hinted that Google testing several new AI models for Gemini Live behind the scenes. The models were reportedly uncovered through a hidden model selector buried inside the Google app.

According to the report, the different versions do not appear to be identical. Some are said to have access to real-time information such as weather and location data, while others seem to place greater emphasis on memory and long-context understanding.

Interestingly, one model carrying the codename ‘Capybara’ reportedly identifies itself as ‘Gemini 3.1 Pro’ rather than the Flash variant that typically powers Gemini Live, hinting that Google could be experimenting with more capable models for the voice interactions with its AI.

Google has already confirmed its plans for creating a desktop-centric operating system that extends Android to larger-screen devices and the official Aluminium OS could be unveiled at I/O 2026.

Ahead of the Android Show, a new 16-minute leaked video had showcased several desktop-inspired features that could be coming to Aluminum OS. These features included support for desktop folders, virtual desktops, a revamped Quick Settings layout and a redesigned notification system, along with deeper integration across Google's ecosystem.

The leaked UI also appeared to include a bottom app dock, app drawer, task-management tools and the ability to move between different workspaces using virtual desktops.