Esports Calendar 2026: All Major Esports Tournaments By Month

The esports ecosystem has become larger and more crowded than ever in 2026, with major tournaments taking place almost every month across various titles. Naturally, it can become overwhelming for fans to follow their favorite title without missing key moments. 

To help ease the process, this esports calendar highlights the most critical Tier 1 tournaments for every month of 2026, including their respective prize pools, locations, and how to watch. 

Note: This page will be updated throughout the year as new events are announced.

Players celebrate a major Dota 2 tournament win while lifting the trophy on stage
Image source: Intel UK

January 2026 Esports Events

The esports calendar opens strong in January, packed with nonstop competition. These early-season tournaments offer you an initial taste of what to expect later in the year.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
January 3–25M7 World ChampionshipMobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB)Jakarta, Indonesia$1,000,000
January 15 to February 15VCT 2026: Americas KickoffVALORANTLos Angeles, United States
TBDLCK Cup 2026League of LegendsSeoul, South Korea
January 15–18ALGS: 2026 ChampionshipApex LegendsSapporo, Japan$2,000,000
TBDLCP 2026 Season KickoffLeague of LegendsTaipei, Taiwan
January 17 to February 8LEC 2026 VersusLeague of LegendsGermany
TBDLPL 2026 Split 1League of LegendsChina
January 17 to February 8CBLOL Cup 2026League of LegendsSão Paulo, Brazil
January 20 to February 15VCT 2026: EMEA KickoffVALORANTBerlin, Germany
January 22–25BLAST Bounty Winter 2026Counter-Strike 2Attard, MaltaTBD
January 22 to February 15VCT 2026: Pacific KickoffVALORANTSeoul, South Korea
January 22 to February 15VCT 2026: China KickoffVALORANTChina
January 26FC Pro Open FinalsEA SPORTS FC 26London, United Kingdom$100,000
TBDLCS 2026 Lock-InLeague of LegendsLos Angeles, United States
January 28 to February 25Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026Counter-Strike 2Kraków, Poland$1,000,000
January 29 to February 1Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 1 MajorCall of DutyTexas, United States$365,000
January 29 to February 1Tekken World Tour 2025 Global FinalsTekken 8Malmö, Sweden$300,000
Astralis players celebrate a Counter-Strike 2 championship victory while lifting the trophy on stage
Image source: ESL Pro

February 2026 Esports Events

With competitions spread across continents, February keeps the pressure high as some of the first major titles of the year take place.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
February 2–15Six Invitational 2026Rainbow Six SiegeParis, FranceTBD
February 3–15BLAST Slam VIDota 2Europe | Malta$1,000,000
February 9–22PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026Counter-Strike 2Cluj-Napoca, Romania$625,000
February 16 to March 1DreamLeague Season 28Dota 2Online$1,000,000
February 19–22RLCS 2026: Boston MajorRocket LeagueBoston, United States$354,000
February 20 to March 1VALORANT Game Changers KickoffVALORANTOnline$10,000
February 28 to March 15VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026VALORANTSantiago, ChileTBD

March 2026 Esports Events

As spring settles in, March arrives with even more tournaments, with stacked LAN events and elite squads traveling across regions for action.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
March 5–15PGL Wallachia Season 7Dota 2Bucharest, Romania$1,000,000
March 13–15ESL Pro League Season 23Counter-Strike 2Stockholm, Sweden$275,000
March 16–22First Stand 2026League of LegendsSão Paulo, Brazil$1,000,000
March 18–29BLAST Open Spring 2026Counter-Strike 2Rotterdam, Netherlands
Copenhagen, Denmark
$400,000
March 22–29ESL One Birmingham 2026Dota 2Birmingham, United Kingdom$1,000,000
March 27–29Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 2 MajorCall of DutyBirmingham, United Kingdom$365,000
A Counter-Strike 2 team lifts the trophy on stage as fans cheer during a major LAN event
Image source: BLAST Premier/ X

April 2026 Esports Events

In April, teams get a chance to regain momentum, sharpen their form, refine their strategies, and rebuild confidence before the esports calendar picks up again the following month.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
April 3–11PGL Bucharest 2026Counter-Strike 2Bucharest, Romania$625,000
April 13–19Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2026Counter-Strike 2Rio de Janeiro, Brazil$300,000
April 15 to June 3VALORANT Game Changers Stage 1VALORANTOnline$65,000
April 16–26PGL Wallachia Season 8Dota 2Bucharest, Romania$1,000,000
April 20–26FISSURE Playground #3Counter-Strike 2Shenzhen, China$450,000
April 24–26Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 3 MinorCall of DutyOnline$20,000
April 25–26FNCS Major 1FortniteOnlineTBD
April 29 to May 3BLAST Rivals Spring 2026Counter-Strike 2Fort Worth, United States$350,000

May 2026 Esports Events

As the esports calendar ramps up with major LAN events, the first real endurance test of the second quarter will start in May.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
May 1–3Evolution Championship Series: Japan 2026Multi-titleTokyo, Japan$191,180
May 7–17PGL Astana 2026Counter-Strike 2Astana, Kazakhstan$800,000
May 11–17Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta 2026Counter-Strike 2Atlanta, United States$300,000
May 13–24DreamLeague Season 29Dota 2Online$1,000,000
May 15–17Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 3 MajorCall of DutyGeorgia, United States$365,000
May 19–24CS Asia Championships 2026Counter-Strike 2Shanghai, China$400,000
May 20–24RLCS 2026 – Paris MajorRocket LeagueNanterre, France$354,000
May 26 to June 7BLAST Slam VIIDota 2TBD$1,000,000
TBDBLAST R6 MajorRainbow Six SiegeTBDTBD
TBDFNCS Major 1 SummitFortniteTBD$1,000,000
Fans react emotionally inside a packed arena during a major esports tournament
Image source: HELLOITSLI

June 2026 Esports Events

June features high-stakes competition, such as the Mid-Season Invitational and another VALORANT Masters, culminating the first half of the season with a bang.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
June 2–21Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major 2026Counter-Strike 2Cologne, Germany$1,250,000
June 5–7Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 4 MinorCall of DutyOnline$20,000
June 6–21VALORANT Masters London 2026VALORANTLondon, United KingdomTBD
June 25–28Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 4 MajorCall of DutyParis, France$365,000
June 26 to July 12Mid-Season Invitational 2026League of LegendsDaejeon, South Korea$2,000,000
June 26–28Evolution Championship Series 2026Multi-titleLas Vegas, Nevada, United States$500,000

July 2026 Esports Events

This month marks the start of the summer grind, as multi-title competitions take center stage during the Esports World Cup 2026.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
July 1 to August 1PUBG Mobile World Cup 2026PUBG MobileRiyadh, Saudi Arabia$3,000,000
July 6 to August 23Esports World Cup 2026Multi-titleRiyadh, Saudi ArabiaTBD
July 3 to September 13VALORANT Game Changers Stage 2VALORANTOnline$65,000
July 13–19FISSURE Playground #4Counter-Strike 2TBD$800,000
July 16–19Call of Duty League 2026: PlayoffsCall of DutyLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesTBD
July 30 to August 2BLAST Bounty Summer 2026Counter-Strike 2Attard, MaltaTBD
Winners celebrate on stage during a major esports tournament trophy ceremony in Saudi Arabia
Image source: Esports World Cup

August 2026 Esports Events

The season peaks in August, with world-class action and massive prize pools. Also, Dota 2 will see the Aegis of the Immortal hoisted at the 15th annual The International.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
August 8–9FNCS Major 2FortniteOnlineTBD
August 12–23Esports World Cup 2026Counter-Strike 2Riyadh, Saudi Arabia$2,000,000
August 13–23The International 2026 (TI15)Dota 2Shanghai, ChinaTBD
August 26 to September 6BLAST Open Fall 2026Counter-Strike 2Copenhagen, Denmark$400,000

September 2026 Esports Events

With VALORANT Champions taking center stage, September becomes the second turning point, blending the world title with a fresh run, resetting the rhythm for the season’s closing months.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
September 7–13FISSURE Playground #5Counter-Strike 2TBDTBD
September 15–20RLCS 2026 – World ChampionshipRocket LeagueTBD$1,200,000
September 17–20StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026Counter-Strike 2TBD$250,000
September 17–27PGL Wallachia Season 9Dota 2Bucharest, Romania$1,000,000
September 29 to October 11BLAST Slam VIIIDota 2TBD$1,000,000
TBDVALORANT Champions 2026VALORANTShanghai, ChinaTBD
A sold-out esports arena hosts a large-scale live tournament with fans watching the main stage
Image source: VALORANT Esports

October 2026 Esports Events

October puts a spotlight on the women’s esports scene, with the VALORANT Game Changers Championship uniting the best female teams to compete on the biggest stage.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
October 3–11ESL Pro League Season 24Counter-Strike 2Katowice, Poland$300,000
October 10–11FNCS Major 3FortniteOnlineTBD
October 9–12Evolution Championship Series: France 2026Multi-titleNice, FranceTBD
October 13–18Forge of Legends 2026Counter-Strike 2TBD$500,000
October 14–18Thunderpick World Championship 2026Counter-Strike 2Malta$500,000
October 22 to November 2PGL Belgrade 2026Counter-Strike 2Belgrade, Serbia$625,000
TBDVALORANT Game Changers ChampionshipVALORANTTBDTBD

November 2026 Esports Events

November feels like the last true battleground, as teams fight through high-stakes tournaments that will define an entire season’s legacy.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
November 2–8Intel Extreme Masters China 2026Counter-Strike 2China$300,000
November 11–15BLAST Rivals Fall 2026Counter-Strike 2TBD$350,000
November 17–29BLAST Slam IXDota 2TBD$1,000,000
November 25 to December 13PGL Major Singapore 2026Counter-Strike 2Kallang, Singapore$1,250,000
TBDFNCS Global ChampionshipFortniteTBD$2,000,000
TBDBLAST R6 MajorRainbow Six SiegeTBDTBD
Esports fans wave team flags and cheer loudly inside a packed tournament arena
Image source: Fortnite

December 2026 Esports Events

December is the “off-season” for most Tier 1 titles, serving as a well-deserved break for players and a time for roster shuffles. However, the Global Games Show and Tier 1 tournaments of the ESL Pro Tour for the 2026/2027 season also kick off in December.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
December 2–13ESL Pro Tour: Dota 2 Tournament 1Dota 2TBD$1,000,000
December 10–11Global Games ShowEsports SummitAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
December 2026Global Esports Federation (GEF) World FinalsMulti-titleLos Angeles, United StatesTBD

Esports World Cup 2026

The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 is a multi-title tournament organized by the EWC Foundation in collaboration with the ESL FACEIT Group. As usual, the tournament will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 6 to August 23, 2026. 

The organizers have confirmed 24 titles, with three more yet to be announced for EWC 2026.

DateGameEventPrize Pool
July 13–19League of LegendsEWC Esports World Cup 2026TBD
August 12–23Counter-Strike 2EWC Esports World Cup 2026$2,000,000
TBDFortniteReload Elite Series Championship$1,000,000
TBDPUBG MobilePUBG Mobile World Cup 2026$3,000,000
TBDMobile Legends: Bang BangMLBB Mid-Season Cup 2026TBD
TBDMobile Legends: Bang BangMLBB Women’s Invitational 2026TBD
TBDFree FireEsports World Cup 2026TBD
TBDRainbow Six SiegeEsports World Cup 2026TBD
TBDRocket LeagueEsports World Cup 2026TBD
TBDEA SPORTS FC 26Esports World CupTBD
TBDApex LegendsTBDTBD
TBDCall of Duty: Black Ops 7TBDTBD
TBDCall of Duty: WarzoneTBDTBD
TBDChessTBDTBD
TBDCrossFireTBDTBD
TBDDota 2TBDTBD
TBDFatal Fury: City of the WolvesTBDTBD
TBDHonor of KingsTBDTBD
TBDOverwatch 2TBDTBD
TBDPUBGTBDTBD
TBDStreet Fighter 6TBDTBD
TBDTeamfight TacticsTBDTBD
TBDTekken 8TBDTBD
TBDVALORANTTBDTBD
A graphic showcasing the confirmed game titles for the Esports World Cup 2026
Image source: EMC 2026

Unconfirmed 2026 Esports Events

This table lists the major esports tournaments for 2026, though the official dates have not yet been announced. For elite events like the League of Legends World Championship (Worlds), we can make an educated guess that it will likely occur around October to November, based on historical trends.

DateEventGameLocationPrize Pool
TBDWorlds 2026League of LegendsTexas and New York City, United States$2,225,000
TBDHonor of Kings International Championship (KIC) 2026Honor of KingsTBDTBD
TBDFFWS Global Finals 2026Free FireTBDTBD
TBDFIFAe World Cup 2026Rocket LeagueTBDTBD

How To Watch Esports Tournaments In 2026

Most esports tournaments can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home. Major events are typically broadcast live on the official Twitch, YouTube, or Kick channels run by tournament organizers, with available platforms and broadcast languages varying by region.

To stay up to date, follow specific tournament announcements, keep an eye on the organizers’ official social media channels, or track coverage on esports.net, where viewing details are added as soon as they’re confirmed.

What Are The Biggest Esports Tournaments In 2026?

Here are some of the biggest esports tournaments in 2026 that you can look forward to:

  • League of Legends World Championship 
  • Esports World Cup 
  • The International 
  • VALORANT Champions Shanghai
  • PGL Singapore Major
  • FNCS Global Championship

FAQs

What is the biggest esports event in 2026?

The biggest esports events for 2026, ranked by reputation, prize money, and global viewership, are: Worlds (League of Legends), The International (Dota 2), Esports World Cup, VALORANT Champions Shanghai, PGL Singapore Major (CS2), and FNCS Global Championship (Fortnite).

When is LoL Worlds 2026?

The official date for LoL Worlds 2026 has not yet been announced, but it is expected to take place around October or November.

When and where will The International 2026 be held?

The International 2026 is scheduled for August 13–23, 2026, and will be held in Shanghai, China.

Which esports have the most tournaments in 2026?

Counter-Strike 2 dominates the esports calendar with tournaments happening almost every month, followed by VALORANT and Dota 2.

How can I stay updated on esports schedules?

Most esports tournaments are broadcast on the tournament organizer’s official Twitch, YouTube, or Kick accounts.