Well, we missed out on Google I/O 2020, but now it’s finally time for Google I/O 2021. While not in person, the annual developer festival in Mountain View, California has returned. The Google I/O 2021 Keynote kicks off at 10am PT/1pm ET, so read on for quick links to our roundup coverage over the last few weeks, some hot takes, and all the latest news about Assistant, Android 12, and ‘Material NEXT’, among many other things.

After skipping last year, Google I/O is back in 2021 as a free, virtual event that anybody can watch through YouTube. The developer conference starts with a keynote at 10 a.m. PT on Tuesday, May 18 and runs until Thursday, May 20.

We’re just hours away from Google I/O 2021’s big keynote, and there’s a whole lot to be excited for this year. While most announcements are left in mystery, we can expect announcements for a ton of Google’s consumer-facing products. What are you most excited for?

Ahead of I/O, Google sent out swag to attendees who won tickets for last year’s canceled developer conference. The box includes a Google I/O 2021 sweatshirt that happens to include an Easter egg to a mystery date/time tomorrow.

With less than 24 hours until I/O 2021, Google is teasing a “brand new Wear version.” It comes amid a flurry of developments in recent weeks from Gboard to rumors about Samsung’s next wearables.

At the start of this week, Google’s developer mascots on Twitter teased a “special surprise” at I/O. The company revealed this morning that there will be a Google I/O Photo Booth to take virtual selfies with Dash, Sparky, Dino, and Android.

Ahead of I/O 2021 next week, Google has updated Material Design to expand its “adaptive capabilities to help prepare your apps for all form factors,” namely large screens. Most developers today are focused on phones, but the company is specifically looking at tablets and desktops. This takes the form of new guidance and design documents, as well as updated components. 

While I/O is predominantly a developer conference, the kickoff keynote is Google’s biggest opportunity every year to show off new consumer services and products. After skipping a year, Google I/O is back for 2021. Here’s our preview of what we expect the company to show off next Tuesday.

The initial I/O 2021 “Program” — as it’s called this year — of sessions was released today and we have our first glimpse at what to expect from Google’s developer conference.

As we get closer to I/O 2021, Google today posted the schedule of sessions and other events for its three-day developer conference next month.

After canceling entirely last year, Google today announced that I/O 2021 will be virtual and free to attend. This developer conference is the company’s biggest event of the year and will run from May 18-20.