YouTube Live Dominates Q2 2026 Livestreaming, While YouTube Gaming Sees Decline

A new report from Streamlabs and Hatchet for Q2 2026 indicates that the livestreaming industry's overall viewership remained flat, but YouTube Live significantly extended its lead. YouTube Live's hours watched increased by 2.7% quarter-over-quarter and 18.0% year-over-year to 12.97 billion, capturing 60.3% of total industry watch time. Conversely, YouTube Gaming experienced its first year-over-year decline in over a year, with hours watched falling by 19.3% quarter-over-quarter.