Esports in 2026 is poised to push competitive gaming to unprecedented levels, especially when it comes to some games. As the top teams and players continue to evolve, understanding the year’s biggest events becomes essential for everyone. This is especially true for online bettors, so we at Nostrabet.com decided to show you some of the hottest esports events of 2026 that are worth considering.
Our team has been following the professional esports scene in several parts of the world and saw a lot of options that can create real betting value. Experienced esports fans will probably be aware of some of them, but we want to inform everyone, so it’s time to dive into them. Keep in mind that the list won’t be in chronological order.
1. League of Legends World Championship 2026
*Date – October 16 – November 14, 2026
The first tournament that esports bettors need to mark on their calendars is the League of Legends World Championship 2026. Also called Worlds 2026, this is LoL’s most important annual tournament. It features all the top teams from all regions – LCK, LPL, LEC, LCS and emerging wildcard leagues.
The reason why League of Legends Worlds 2026 is a crucial competition for online bettors is that it offers opportunities. Unlike some of the smaller LoL events, this one attracts fans from around the world. As a result, even bookmakers who do not focus on online betting will provide people with at least a couple of options.
Worlds 2026 will have structured play-ins, Swiss/group stage, playoffs, and a Grand Final. People wishing to watch the event have to tune in between October 16 and November 14, 2026.
2. Valorant Champions 2026
*Date – September 26 – October 18, 2026
Riot Games is behind some of the leading esports that online bettors like wagering on, and Valorant is among them. The Valorant Championship 2026 will be the most important tournament of the year in this game. It will include the best teams from all international leagues, and they will compete for honor and a solid prize pool.
VCT 2026 will be between September 26 and October 18 and will have a Group Stage and playoffs. Unless something changes, Riot said that the competition will be in Shanghai, China. Since it is the highlight of the year for Valorant, esports bettors can expect to find options like Outright Winner, Match Winner, Map Handicaps, Total rounds, and more. In fact, some of the bookmakers that specialize in Esports can also offer users special bonuses for this event.
3. The International 2026
*Date – August 13 -August 23, 2026
Dota 2 will have tons of big tournaments that players can bet on in 2026. In fact, almost all big competitions will be worth it because each one comes with a prize pool of over $1,000,000. Having said that, The International 2026 will be the most important one, and for a good reason.
Taking place between August 13 and August 23 in Shanghai, China, The International 2026 will bring together Dota 2’s finest. Valve is the organizer and the company will welcome 16 of the best teams from all parts of the world. This can only mean one thing for online bettors – plenty of opportunities to put their luck to the test.
Historically, online bookmakers have consistently offered a wide range of options for individuals looking to bet on The International. In addition to the standard options, it is very likely to find some kind of short-term bonuses like cashback. Yes, it’s true that TI lost some of its glamour after Valve decided to change its approach in terms of the prize pool, but the event remains a crucial part of the professional Dota 2 calendar.
4. Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major 2026
*Date – June 2 – June 21, 2026
The Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major 2026 will be the first Major CS2 tournament of 2026, organized by Valve. Similar to all Majors from 2025 onward, it will have 32 teams competing for a $1,250,000 prize pool. IEM Cologne Major 2026 will take place between June 2 and June 21, and we can watch it in Cologne, Germany.
Counter-Strike 2 has become one of the largest esports titles available. The game offers tons of tournaments that people can bet on, and each one has its advantages. The one mentioned here is the first major, but fans will also have access to another one – PGL Major Singapore 2026. It will be between November 26 and December 13, and it will be as exciting as this one.
Alongside the two big competitions, CS2 fans from around the world will have all kinds of other options. For example, bettors can wager on the Intel Extreme Masters Krakow 2026, PGL Astana 2026, FISSURE Playground #4, PGL Masters Bucharest 2026, and much more.
The important thing to remember when betting on Counter-Strike 2 is that there will be plenty of options. The game is incredibly popular, and bookmakers know it, so they offer things like special markets for that particular event. You can also expect the usual bonuses like free bets, cashback and odds boosts.
5. PUBG Global Championship 2026
*Date – TBD
PUBG is one of the more niche esports titles that casual bettors often skip. It is true that the game may not offer as many options as Dota 2, League of Legends and CS2, but it has more than enough options. We believe that the PUBG Global Championship 2026 is the most significant one, and it is scheduled to take place in December this year.
The best team from around the globe will come together to compete for the title and an impressive amount of money. We do not know the names of the participants, the prize and the reward for now, but a quick look at 2025 shows they were impressive. Last year, the event had a reward of ~$1.8M, and it featured 33 teams.
People who wish to bet on PUBG should keep in mind that most bookmakers won’t have that many options. Casual operators may not even offer this game, and those that have it will usually provide the basics. That is one of the big reasons why many esports bettors prefer choosing an operator that focuses on these types of products. Don’t worry, Nostrabet can provide you with detailed reviews about the hottest esports bookies that will have more than enough.
6. MLBB Mid Season Cup 2026
*Date – TBD
Before sharing any information about this event, we’d like to point out that we do not have any details available yet. What we do know is that it took place in 2024 and 2025, and it was the highlight of Mobile Legends. The competition was in Riyadh, it featured 23 teams and a prize pool of over $3,000,000.
Mobile Legends is a popular esports title in Asia, and it attracts millions of players and viewers daily. Yes, the game is not that big in the West, but even casual bookmakers started acknowledging its potential. As a result, more and more online bookmakers will give punters the chance to bet on it.
Aside from the event mentioned here, Mobile Legends fans can also watch the M7 World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event has 22 teams and comes with a $1,000,000 reward. It began on January 3 and will end on January 25.
7. Esports World Cup 2026
*Date – July 6 – August 23, 2026
As always, the Esports World Cup is one of the most important esports events of the year. The 2026 edition will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the centerpiece of the global esports calendar. Taking place between July 6 and August 23, 2026, this year’s event will feature over 20 different games. Consequently, esports bettors will have plenty of opportunities to choose something interesting.
Most online bettors really like the festival-style competitive structure with individual game tournaments that the EWC is known for. People wishing to wager have access to all kinds of things to choose from. Here is just a list of some of the titles we will see and what you should know about them:
- Counter-Strike 2 – We’ll see a total of 32 teams playing for a $2m+ prize pool. Previous Esports World Cups have shown that CS2 bettors will find a lot of markets, competitive odds and good markets.
- League of Legends – Worlds might be the most prestigious event, but the Esports World Cup is a close second. This will essentially be a second Worlds Series for the best teams in the world.
- Fortnite – Fortnite fans will have access to the Fortnite Reload Elite Series, an event that will have a $2.5M prize pool. As expected, it will attract the top dos and solos competitors, and this means that bettors have the chance to choose from a lot of things.
- Dota 2 – Many people agree that the Esports World Cup has become more important than The International in the last couple of years. The higher prize pool means many teams prioritize it over anything else, so we can expect a fierce battle. We do not have any details about the reward yet, but one thing is certain – it will be a lot.
8. Fortnite Champion Series 2026 – Global Championship
*Date – TBD
Similar to the MLBB Mid Season Cup 2026, this is one of the tournaments that has not been announced yet. However, we believe it is only a matter of time before the announcement is made, as this is the biggest Fortnite event of the year. Just to get an idea, the 2025 edition was in France, and it had a prize pool of over $2M. We saw a total of 33 teams, and the event was amazing to watch.
Betting on Fortnite was not that popular before, but things have changed in recent years. People have the opportunity to choose from a wider range of events, and the markets are becoming increasingly innovative. For example, bettors can wager on thighs like Stage Winner, Region Winner, Total Eliminations, Average Placement, First Elimination, and much more.
Closing Thoughts
We believe that esports continue to grow in popularity and 2026 stands out as a landmark year for competitive gaming and betting alike. There is no arguing that the events mentioned here will offer plenty of opportunities. What we urge, however, is to understand each competition’s format and learn as much information about the teams as possible.
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