Evolution Championship Series is giving players and fans a say in how its 2026 season will look. For the first time, the number of competitors who sign up for each title will decide which games reach the Arena Finals in Japan and Las Vegas. Fans will also take part in selecting finalists for the Evo Awards through public nominations.
Early bird sign-ups opened today for Las Vegas at evo.gg and for the Japan stop at evojapan.gg. Three-day passes for Las Vegas are available for under $200 through Feb. 2.
Both events will feature 12 titles. The six with the highest registration counts move to Arena Finals, while the rest will be played on the Showcase Stage. Evo Las Vegas will offer at least $500,000 across all brackets. The full announcement is posted on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok.
“Evo is defined by its global community, and we want fans worldwide to have an active voice in the experiences available at our events this year,” said Rick Thiher.
Seattle competitor Dominique McLean closed the announcement show and enters 2026 one win away from tying Justin Wong’s Las Vegas record. Pakistan’s Arslan Ash has a path to match Evo’s all-time mark with wins in Japan, Las Vegas and France.
Evo Japan runs May 1-3 at Tokyo Big Sight. Evo Las Vegas returns June 26-28 to the Las Vegas Convention Center with Chipotle back as presenting partner. Both stops plan to bring back museum displays, cosplay contests and the Evo Showcase.
Nominations for the Evo Awards are open through Jan. 9. Winners will be announced March 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. Registration for both events continues in phases through May 25.
