Top Esports Events to Bet On: 2026 Esports Betting Calendar
- The biggest esports betting opportunities in 2026 will come from major global events like Worlds, CS2 Majors, VALORANT Champions, The International, and the Esports World Cup.
- Smart esports betting rewards preparation, including understanding formats, targeting high-liquidity markets, and choosing the right bet types.
- Consistent profit comes from discipline, using implied probability, avoiding “hype” bets, and focusing on value over volume.
More established leagues and deeper past data mean markets are becoming more predictable and stable, making 2026 a huge year for esports betting. In this article, we’ll go over some of the biggest opportunities you could take hold of this year.
- 1. Top esports events to bet on in 2026
- Call of Duty League (CDL) Major I
- Call of Duty League (CDL) Major II
- VALORANT Masters - Santiago
- Call of Duty League (CDL) Major III
- Call of Duty League (CDL) Major IV
- CS2 - IEM Cologne
- VALORANT Masters - London
- League of Legends MSI
- Esports World Cup 2026
- Call of Duty League (CDL) Championship Weekend
- DOTA 2 The International 2026
- VALORANT Championships 2026
- League of Legends World Championship (Worlds 2026)
- CS2 PGL Major Singapore
- 2. Top 3 ways to bet smarter on esports in 2026
- 3. Conclusion
- 4. FAQs
Top esports events to bet on in 2026
With international audiences drawn in and the widest range of betting markets available, these are the biggest esports tournaments in the world that you cannot miss out on in 2026. Let’s take a quick look at what’s coming up in the months ahead and will definitely be available on top esports betting sites.
Call of Duty League (CDL) Major I
| Date | January 29 – February 1 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Dallas, Texas, hosted by OpTic Texas |
| Popular betting markets | Map and match winners Map totals and handicaps First map winner Tournament winner futures |
| Best bets to make | Futures before Major 1 when odds are highest Match winners |
The Call of Duty (CDL) Major I is the first of a series of tournaments spread across the year. All 12 teams face-off against each other in Texas for CDL Major I.
Call of Duty League (CDL) Major II
| Date | February 13 – March 29 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Birmingham, United Kingdom, hosted by DreamHack |
| Popular betting markets | Map and match winners Map totals and handicaps First map winner Tournament winner futures First blood, MVP, most kills |
| Best bets to make | Player performance props Underdog maps in a best-of series |
CDL Major II heads to the UK for the first-ever 10-team major. With limited slots available in this tournament, qualifying will be more intense than ever.
VALORANT Masters – Santiago
| Date | February 28 – March 16 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Santiago, Chile |
| Popular betting markets | Match winners, player kill totals, pistol round betting, map winners, player performance props |
| Best bets to make | Tournament winner futures Live betting on pistol rounds |
VALORANT’s top teams head to Santiago for the first international tournament of the year. It’s a great opportunity to place bets on teams that show strong form early in the year.
Call of Duty League (CDL) Major III
| Date | April 17 – May 17 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Popular betting markets | Map and match winners Map totals and handicaps First map winner Tournament winner futures First blood, MVP, most kills |
| Best bets to make | Player performance props Map handicaps |
The CDL Major III will be hosted in Atlanta, but this one is particularly interesting to bet on. Four Challengers teams join the CDL pros to battle for the trophy.
Call of Duty League (CDL) Major IV
| Date | May 29 – June 28 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Paris, France |
| Popular betting markets | Map and match winners Map totals and handicaps First map winner Tournament winner futures First blood, MVP, most kills |
| Best bets to make | First map winners Match winners |
The fourth Major takes teams to Paris, and it’s the last chance for teams to secure CDL points before Champs. Teams will be desperate to qualify, leading to more aggressive playstyles you can take advantage of in your bets.
CS2 – IEM Cologne
| Date | June 2 – 21, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany |
| Popular betting markets | Match and map winners, total rounds, player kill props, tournament winner futures |
| Best bets to make | Underdog map picks Player performance props |
CS2 is a classic for esports betting because of the predictable formats, huge amount of historical data (especially map-specific data), and great odds across the majority of the tournament.
VALORANT Masters – London
| Date | June 6 – June 21 |
|---|---|
| Venue | London, United Kingdom |
| Popular betting markets | Match and map winners, player performance props, tournament winners, pistol round bets |
| Best bets to make | Tournament winners Player performance props Pistol round bets |
VALORANT Masters London is the second major international tournament of the year. With a $1,000,000 prize pool up for grabs, there’s plenty of opportunity to get some good bets in.
League of Legends MSI
| Date | June 26 – July 12 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Daejeon, South Korea |
| Popular betting markets | First blood, first map, first Baron Total kills Map handicaps Match and map winners Tournament winners |
| Best bets to make | First blood Map handicaps Tournament winner futures |
The Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is the second cross-regional competition for League of Legends. With a $2,000,000 prize pool featuring ten teams (two from each pro region), there’s a lot of opportunity to take hold of.
Esports World Cup 2026
| Date | July 06 – August 23, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Popular betting markets | Match winners across multiple titles including Apex Legends, EA FC 26, Tekken 8, and more. Futures by game and region Live betting across parallel events |
| Best bets to make | Cross-title futures Early stage match betting before odds tighten |
The Esports World Cup is one of the fastest growing betting events. The multi-game format and massive prize pool make it the ultimate tournament that offers non-stop wagering opportunities across multiple titles at once.
Call of Duty League (CDL) Championship Weekend
| Date | July 16-19 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Las Vegas, Nevada, hosted by FaZe Vegas |
| Popular betting markets | Map and match winners Map totals and handicaps First map winner Tournament winner futures First blood, MVP, most kills |
| Best bets to make | Tournament winner futures Match winners |
The CDL season comes to an end in Vegas. OpTic Texas has won two years in a row, so they’re currently the safe bet and the favorites to take the title again – or you could bet on an underdog.
DOTA 2 The International 2026
| Date | August (TBC) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Shanghai, China |
| Popular betting markets | Map winners and handicaps First Roshan and first blood Total kills per map Futures on tournament winners |
| Best bets to make | Early-game objective props Map handicap markets |
Dota 2 tournaments are still a firm favorite for esports bettors because of the structured drafts and objective-focused gameplay. While there will be multiple tournaments in 2026, The International 2026 in August will be a prime opportunity for prop and map betting.
VALORANT Championships 2026
| Date | September 24 – October 18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | TBC – Shanghai, China |
| Popular betting markets | Match and map winners Total rounds and handicaps Player kill totals Live pistol-round betting |
| Best bets to make | Map handicaps and total rounds Live betting after pistol rounds |
VALORANT Champions is great for esports betting with volatile map swings and fast in-place odds movements. If you love live betting, this is a great one to tune in to.
League of Legends World Championship (Worlds 2026)
| Date | October – November |
|---|---|
| Venue | TBC – North America |
| Popular betting markets | Match and map winners First blood, first map, first Baron Total kills and map handicaps Tournament winner futures |
| Best bets to make | Map-based and early objective markets Futures before group stages |
Worlds consistently ranks as the most bet-on esports event globally. The long format and massive data history make it ideal for futures, props, and exciting live betting.
CS2 PGL Major Singapore
| Date | November 25 – December 13, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Singapore Indoor Stadium |
| Popular betting markets | Map winners, total rounds, total kills, player performance props |
| Best bets to make | Tournament winner futures Player performance props |
The second major CS2 tournament of the year takes place in Singapore. The PGL Major brings 32 of the world’s best teams to Singapore to compete for a $1,250,000 prize pool.
Top 3 ways to bet smarter on esports in 2026
- Focus on big events with high liquidity as opposed to random matches: Big tournaments offer tighter lines and a lot more markets. For example, if you bet on map totals during Worlds or a CS2 Major, you’re likely going to get better prices and a much better live betting experience compared to lower-tier tournaments or random matches.
- Use format knowledge to choose the right markets: Best-of formats give you more flexibility in your wagers. For example, in a best-of-five match-up, backing an underdog on Map 1 could potentially make more sense than going for the match winner if they’re known for being aggressive out of the gate.
- Compare implied probability to your own numbers: Always convert odds to percentages and try to find value. For example, if a team is priced at +200 (or 33.3%) but your research suggests they have a 45% chance of winning based on the map pool, it’s a bet worth considering because there’s value in it.
Conclusion
The biggest esports events in 2026 are coming fast. But you can’t just bet on impulse or go with the crowd because one team is hyped up over the others. These massive, global tournaments reward preparation, format knowledge, and disciplined decision-making.
Choosing the right markets and focusing on implied probability to spot value are some of the best ways to bet smart, rather than using guesswork to try and win wagers. When the biggest esports event roll around, make sure to be selective with your bets and play responsibly with good habits to get some good wins under your belt.
FAQs
What esports tournaments can you bet on in 2026?
In 2026, you can bet on major global events like the League of Legends World Championship, VALORANT Champions, CS2 Majors, Dota 2 The International 2026, and the biggest of all – the Esports World Cup. All of these events offer a wide range of pre-match and live betting markets.
How to find esports events for betting?
Most licensed sportsbooks list upcoming esports events in their esports section, often categorized by game and tournament. Following official league schedules and major tournament calendars also helps you prepare early for futures and long-term bets.
Which esports games have the most betting events?
Games like Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2, and VALORANT often have the most betting opportunities. These titles run year-round leagues and international tournaments, creating consistent markets for both pre-match and live betting.
