Google’s biggest and most exciting event of the year is nearly here. That would be Google I/O. This is Google’s developer conference that was first held in 2008, when Google was merely a search engine, though they did launch Android at Google I/O 2008.
Fast-forward to 2026, and it’s a two-day event, once again headlining the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View. The venue is right next door to the Googleplex, talk about a perfect location for Google I/O.
So what are we expecting from Google I/O 2026? Well, lots of AI. Just like the last couple of years. We’re expecting that the entire two-hour-long opening keynote will be all about AI. Though last year Google did mix things up a bit and brought out some hardware at the end, the Gemini Glasses. Which was still AI.
In this preview, we’re going to go over everything we expect to hear about at Google I/O. I’ll also be attending Google I/O once again, bringing back all the latest on Google’s products. Google I/O officially kicks off on May 19 at 10AM PT with the opening keynote.
Android won’t have a huge presence
Much like last year, Google is hosting The Android Show | I/O Edition, a week ahead of Google I/O. This is where we will be getting all of the Android news, versus during Google I/O itself. The live stream will take place on May 12 at 10 AM PT.
Android will still be at Google I/O, but it won’t be mentioned very much during the keynote. The only thing that is likely to show up during the keynote that’s Android-related would be Android XR. Google, Samsung, and a few other companies are slated to announce new Android XR smart glasses this year. And Google I/O would be the perfect place for Google to fully announce their own glasses (which they showed off last year).
But as far as Android 17 goes, that will be announced on May 12.
Android XR glasses for everyone
While we did get the Galaxy XR late last year, it’s not the Android XR product that most people are waiting on. They’re waiting on glasses, and that could come at Google I/O this year. Google did show off its own glasses last year, in pretty limited demos, and showed them off again this year at MWC in Barcelona (but wouldn’t let us take photos). So we could still be a few months away from a launch, but it is very likely that they will make an appearance.
Later this year, we are also expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy Glasses, which will also use Android XR. Even Gucci is getting in on the smart glasses trend. Android XR could be a larger subject at Google I/O than you probably expected.
Aluminum OS could make its way into some sessions
There’s been a lot of talk about Aluminum OS over the past few years. It’s an operating system that Google is working on to combine Android and Chrome OS. The idea here is to design a version of Android for the desktop, instead of simply expanding Android to run on larger displays.
Now, it’s unlikely that Google would announce this at Google I/O, but it seems like it’s still far from being ready. But we could see a few sessions including it, or even being picked up in a fireside chat or two.
Lots of new AI features
Of course, this was a given, but Google will likely spend a lot of time on AI, and specifically Gemini. AI is the hot buzzword right now, and every company, including Google, is spending billions on it and even laying off humans to invest more in AI. We are likely to see some updates to Google’s big AI products like Veo, Nano Banana, Lyria, and Gemma.
It’s also likely we could see a new version of Gemini announced at Google I/O. Earlier this week, Google rolled out an updated Gemini app to iOS with a redesign. Hopefully, we see that come to more platforms like the web and Android.
It would not surprise me to see the two-hour Keynote on May 19 be about 90% about Gemini and Google’s other AI products.
Some Surprises
Google hasn’t given us a lot of surprises at I/O in recent years. Though Google showed off the Android XR-powered Gemini Glasses last year, it was a bit of a surprise, a “One More Thing” if you will. Here’s to hoping we get some sort of surprise this year at Google I/O.
The post Here’s What We’re Expecting at Google I/O 2026 appeared first on Android Headlines.
