Popular Esports Events & Online Tournaments to Bet on in 2026
Biggest Competitive Esports Tournaments in 2026 - Bet on Global Esports Events
Electronic Sports, better known as Esports, are competitive video games, featuring the best players and teams from all over the world. You can bet on Esports, with all major games, including Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, League of Legends and Dota 2 at Stake Sportsbook.
Read on to discover the most popular Esports tournaments that you can bet on at Stake for 2026.
What are Esports Tournaments?
Esports tournaments are competitive gaming events in which qualified teams battle against each other for titles and prize money. Esports tournaments range from online games to massive offline events, held in arenas with thousands of fans in attendance, just like a regular sporting event. These offline events use local area network (LAN) connections to ensure opposing teams can compete against one another.
History of Competitive Esports
It’s believed that the first competitive video game event took place at Stanford University in 1972. Students could participate in an event to beat other teams or players in Spacewar! During the 70s, video games began to take off for the first time, with arcades offering players the chance to set and break high scores.
In 1974, Sega held the All Japan TV Game Championships, with local tournaments held at arcades all over Japan. 16 finalists then competed in the final elimination rounds, in a format that has inspired many Esports tournaments today.
Space Invaders popularised a persistent high score for all players, and in 1980, the Space Invaders Championship saw over 10,000 people attend from across the United States. Esports continued to grow as video games created new forms of gameplay, including direct player-vs-player (PVP) contests.
Although competitive video gaming continued to grow through the 90s, it wasn’t until the year 2000 that the term Esports was first used. The term is credited to South Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Park Jie-won, at the opening ceremony of the Korean Esports Association.
Since then, Esports have continued to grow worldwide, and new games like StarCraft II, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2 have added more excitement and action for players and fans to enjoy.
Major Esport Tournaments in 2026
2025 was a huge year for Esports fans, with massive events held all over the world, including the Esports World Cup and tournaments in popular games such as Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Dota 2 and Valorant. It was an excellent year for our Stake Partner – Team Vitality, who secured back-to-back CS2 Major titles in the 2025 season!
This year is shaping up to be even bigger, with Esports action in all your favourite games and new partnerships with tier 1 Esports teams like Astralis! Whether you love betting on FPS, MOBA, RTS or sports games, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the biggest Esports tournaments planned for 2026:
FPS
Counter-Strike
Our Counter-Strike betting guide is the best resource to start with if you’re planning on betting on these Counter-Strike tournaments:
13-25 January - BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 - 8 teams compete
28 January-8 February - IEM Kraków 2026 - 24 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
9-22 February - PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $625,000 prize pool
13-15 March - ESL Pro League Season 23 - 8 teams compete for a share of the $776,000 LAN Final prize pool – Explore our expert ESL picks for more insights!
18-29 March - BLAST Open Spring 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $400,000 prize pool - Read about our BLAST Premier predictions before placing your bets!
1-4 April - Stake Ranked EP1 - 8 teams compete in a LAN final for a share of the $100,000 prize pool
3-11 April - PGL Bucharest 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $625,000 prize pool - Read up on our expert PGL picks to stay up to date before placing your CS2 bets!
13-19 April - IEM Rio 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $300,000 prize pool
20-26 April - FISSURE Playground 3 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $450,000 prize pool
29 April- 3 May - BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 - 8 teams compete for a share of the $350,000 prize pool - Read about our BLAST Premier predictions before placing your bets!
7-17 May - PGL Astana 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $800,000 prize pool
11-17 May - IEM Atlanta 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $300,000 prize pool
19-24 May - CS Asia Championships 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $400,000 prize pool
27-30 May - Stake Ranked EP2 - 8 teams compete for a share of the $100,000 prize pool - Read our expert insights for Stake Ranked for a betting edge!
2-21 June - IEM Cologne 2026 - 32 teams compete for a share of the $1.25 million prize pool
13-19 June - FISSURE Playground 4 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $800,000 prize pool
30 July-2 August - BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 - 8 teams compete
26 August-6 September - BLAST Open Fall 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $400,000 prize pool
7-13 September - FISSURE Playground 5 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $450,000 prize pool
17-20 September - StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 - 8 teams compete for a share of the $250,000 prize pool
3-11 October - ESL Pro League Season 24 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $300,000 prize pool
13-18 October - Forge of Legends 2026 - $500,000 prize pool
14-18 October - Thunderpick World Championship 2026 - 8 teams compete for a share of the $500,000 prize pool
24-31 October - PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $625,000 prize pool
2-8 November - IEM China 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $300,000 prize pool
11-15 November - BLAST Rivals Fall 2026 - 8 teams compete for a share of the $350,000 prize pool
25 November-13 December - PGL Major Singapore 2026 - 32 teams compete for a share of the $1.25 million prize pool
Valorant
We recommend reading our guide to betting on Valorant before you place any bets on these upcoming tournaments:
15 January-15 February - VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff - 12 teams
20 January-15 February - VCT 2026: EMEA Kickoff - 12 teams
22 January-9 February - VCT 2026: China Kickoff - 12 teams
22 January-15 February - VCT 2026: Pacific Kickoff - 12 teams
16-26 February - VCT 2026: EMEA Clash - 15 teams
28 February- 15 March - VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 - 12 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
1 March-1 May - VCT 2026: Americas Stage 1 - 12 teams
1 March-1 May - VCT 2026: China Stage 1 - 12 teams
1 March-1 May - VCT 2026: Pacific Stage 1 - 12 teams
1 March-1 May - VCT 2026: EMEA Stage 1 - 12 teams
6-21 June - VALORANT Masters London 2026 - 12 teams competing for a share of the $1 million prize pool
1 June-1 September - VCT 2026: Americas Stage 2 - 12 teams compete for a share of the $250,000 prize pool
1 June-1 September - VCT 2026: China Stage 2 - 12 teams compete for a share of the $250,000 prize pool
1 June-1 September - VCT 2026: Pacific Stage 2 - 12 teams compete for a share of the $250,000 prize pool
1 June-1 September - VCT 2026: EMEA Stage 2 -12 teams compete for a share of the $250,000 prize pool
24 September-18 October - VALORANT Champions 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $2.25 million prize pool
Call of Duty
5 December 20250- 29 June 2026 - Call of Duty League 2026 Regular Season - 12 teams
29 January-1 February - Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 1 Major - 10 teams compete for a share of the $365,000 prize pool
27-29 March - Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 2 Major - 10 teams compete for a share of the $365,000 prize pool
15-17 May - Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 3 Major: 16 teams compete for a share of the $365,000 prize pool
25-28 June - Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 4 Major - 12 teams compete for a share of the $365,000 prize pool
16-19 July - Call of Duty League 2026 Playoffs - 8 teams
MOBA
League of Legends
Check out our League of Legends betting guide before betting on any of these upcoming tournaments:
14 January-1 March - LCK Cup 2026 - 10 teams
14 January-1 March - LPL 2026 Split 1 - 14 teams compete for a share of the $229,450 prize pool
16 January-1 Match - LCP 2026 Split 1 - 8 teams
17 January-1 March - LEC Versus 2026 - 12 teams
17 January-28 February - CBLOL Cup 2026 - 8 teams
24 January-1 March - LCS 2026 Lock-In - 8 teams
16-22 March - First Stand Tournament 2026 - 8 teams
1 April-1 June - LCS 2026 Spring - 8 teams
1 April-1 June - CBLOL 2026 Split 1 - 8 teams
1 April-1 June - LPL 2026 Split 2 - 15 teams compete for a share of the $401,537 prize pool
1 April-1 June - LEC 2026 Spring - 10 teams
1 April-13 September - LCK 2026 Season - 10 teams
4 April-7 June - LCP 2026 Split 2 - 8 teams
26 June-12 July - Mid-Season Invitational 2026 - 11 teams
1 July-1 September - LCS 2026 Summer - 8 teams
1 July-1 September - CBLOL 2026 Split 2 - 8 teams
1 July-1 September - LEC 2026 Summer - 10 teams
24 July-30 August - LCP 2026 Split 3 - 8 teams
16 October-14 November - 2026 LoL World Championship - 18 teams
Dota 2
Take a look at our Dota 2 betting guide before checking the odds for these upcoming tournaments:
3-15 February - BLAST Slam VI - 13 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
16 February-1 March - DreamLeague Season 28 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
5-15 March - PGL Wallachia Season 7 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
22-29 March - ESL One Birmingham 2026 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
16-26 April - PG Wallachia Season 8 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
13-24 March - DreamLeague Season 29 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
26 May-7 June - BLAST Slam VII - 12 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
13-23 August - Dota 2 - The International 2026
17-27 September - PGL Wallachia Season 9 - 16 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
29 September-11 October - BLAST Slam VIII - 12 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
17-29 November - BLAST Slam IX - 12 teams compete for a share of the $1 million prize pool
King of Glory/Honor of Kings
1 October-14 November - King Pro League Grand Finals 2026 - 12 teams
RTS
StarCraft II
17-18 January - Thunderfire SC2 All-star - 16 participants compete for a share of the $50,019 prize pool
22 January-7 February - Rongyi Cip S3 - 16 participants compete for a share of the $21,498 prize pool
30 January-1 February - HomeStory Cup XXVIII
Age of Empires
1-6 April - Red Bull Wololo: Londinium Age of Empires II - 8 participants compete for a share of the $170,000 prize pool
4-6 April - Red Bull Wololo: Londinium Age of Empires IV - 4 participants compete for a share of the $40,000 prize pool
Sports
FIFA/EA Sports FC
24 November 2025- 26 January 2026 - FC Pro 26 Open - 24 participants compete for a share of the $532,000 prize pool
Esports World Cup
The 2026 Esports World Cup takes place between 6 July and 23 August and features an enormous total prize pool of $30 million. Esports titles featured at the 2026 Esports World Cup include:
Valorant
Apex Legends
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Honor of Kings
Fortnite
Rocket League
League of Legends - 13-19 July
Call of Duty
PUBG
Rainbow Six
Counter-Strike - 12-23 August
EA Sports
Most Popular Esports Betting Markets & Bet Types
Betting on Esports tournaments is just like betting on any other sports events at Stake. You can check out our Esports betting guide and our guides for specific game types, such as FPS game betting and MOBA game betting. We’ve also got guides on FPS game terminology and MOBA terminology.
There are many different Esports betting markets at Stake. Some of the most popular bet types include:
Match winner - Twoway - This is essentially a moneyline bet, where you pick which team you think will win the match overall.
Map winner - Threeway - This market is like a 1x2 bet, with 3 separate options to bet on. A video game map, the area in which the game is played, is typically used as a round for Esports tournaments. This bet allows you to choose which team you think will win the map, with a draw also possible for some games.
Map Handicap - This handicap betting market lets you predict which team will win the game with a map handicap applied.
Total Maps/Kills - Bet on the over/under line for the total maps played during the game. You can also bet on the total kills during the match or the total kills for either team.
Correct Score - This bet type allows you to predict the final score of the match.
Prop bets - Prop bets offer the chance to bet on stats that aren’t directly tied to the game’s result. For example, you can bet on the total kills for a specific player, multi-kills or which player will achieve first blood.
Parlays - Within your betslip, you’ll be able to combine multiple bets into one, known as a parlay, to increase your odds and potential payout. Some Esports events also offer same-game multibets, where you can combine bets within the same match.
Outright bets - Betting on the Esports tournament winner is an example of outright betting.
How to Watch Esports Live Streams & Place Live Bets
All major esports events are covered at Stake, with pre-match and live betting options available. You can check out the latest live betting odds at any time by opening the event as it’s happening. Live scores and stats are provided too, increasing your insights into the match and helping your chances while in-play betting.
We also enable you to keep up with all esports events as they happen in real time through our live stream feature. All you have to do is access the Live Stream tab and find all ongoing major events. From there, find the event you bet on and click on the little screen icon to start the live stream. Live streaming is completely free, and you’ll be able to enjoy all the action as it happens and place more informed bets.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Betting on Esports
Deposit
Log in to your Stake.com account using your secure passkey and open your wallet.
Choose the deposit option and then pick any of the available payment methods and local currencies, including Canadian Dollars, Turkish Lira, Vietnamese Dong, Argentine Pesos, Chilean Pesos, Mexican Pesos, USD in Ecuador, and Indian Rupees.
Stake also supports crypto deposits, with lots of crypto betting options available, such as BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX, and SOL.
Send your coins to the deposit address provided, or use Mesh to deposit from your wallet or a trusted exchange. You can also buy crypto easily and transfer it using Swapped.com or MoonPay .
Once your deposit arrives, you can swap between supported cryptocurrencies and store your coins safely in the Stake vault for additional security.
Withdraw
Log in and open your Stake wallet.
Choose the withdraw option and select any of the available payment methods.
Enter your payment details and the amount you’d like to withdraw.
If you’re withdrawing crypto, ensure you have the right crypto network selected .
Double-check all your details before you confirm the payment.
Sports Betting Promotions, VIP Club & Responsible Gambling
If you’re a regular bettor at Stake, you’ll be able to make the most of our betting promotions and access exclusive rewards via the Stake VIP Club. VIPs can enjoy several benefits, like regular rakeback and reload bonuses, as they level up their accounts. You can even unlock your own VIP host if you reach the top levels.
If you have questions about the VIP Club perks, you can always consult the customer support guide or look into the dedicated VIP Club FAQ page.
Make sure you follow our Stake Smart guidelines to stay in control and bet responsibly while enjoying Esports.
