What to Expect from Google I/O 2026: Gemini upgrades, Android features, Aluminium OS, and more

Google I/O 2026 is just around the corner, with the big keynote scheduled for May 19. Last year’s event saw a heavy focus on AI, and we are expecting a similar theme this time around. Here’s what to expect from Google I/O 2026.

This year, the Google I/O keynote is scheduled for May 19 at 10 AM PT/ 1 PM ET. If you’re not among those invited to attend the event in person, you can catch it on the livestream on Google’s official YouTube channel (embedded above).

We will also be covering Google I/O 2026, and you can follow along with our coverage.

What to expect from Google I/O 2026?

Expectations are sky-high for what could be one of Google’s most ambitious events in years. From major Gemini upgrades and the possible debut of Aluminium OS to Android 17’s next-gen features and new Android XR hardware, Google appears ready to push deeper into AI, cross-device experiences, and entirely new form factors. Here’s what we’re expecting to see this year.

Like last year, Google is hosting a separate Android Show I/O Edition to talk about upcoming Android features and other developments. This year, the pre-recorded show will be played out on YouTube a week before the main keynote, i.e., May 12 at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET. Google has promised that this will be one of the biggest years for Android, so we’re rightfully excited for what the company announced at this pre-I/O event.

We are expecting Google to showcase what’s coming to Android over the next couple of months, including more Android 17 features. To be clear, we don’t expect a full-fledged stable rollout yet. Android 17 Beta 4 was released nearly two weeks ago with minor changes, and though Google has termed it as “the near-final environment,” expect to wait before the stable build is released to the public. Based on the release timeline for Android 16 last year, we expect the Android 17 release sometime in June this year.

Google is expected to announce a new version of Gemini at the event. While it is unclear whether it will get the 4.0 treatment or be another 3.x update, it is rumored to be a major overhaul of Gemini’s capabilities.

On the consumer front, the company recently brought Gemini to cars and has been steadily improving its capabilities with features like Gemini notebooks. Since Gemini is part of almost every Google product and service, we think Google will spend a good amount of time talking about it on stage during its keynote.

It is, therefore, quite likely that Google will have a segment dedicated to Aluminum OS. We can’t be certain whether the company will announce any hardware as well, but there are chances that Google will talk about partnerships alongside updates on the development of Aluminium OS at I/O 2026.

Samsung already has the Galaxy XR headset running on Android XR, so it’s possible we will see more products this time around, maybe even the recently leaked and much-talked-about Galaxy Glasses, which Samsung is expected to launch this year.

Since Google has multiple Android XR partnerships in the mix, including Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, and XREAL, we will hopefully see headsets across a wide range of price points and capabilities, which would be a definite win for consumers.