IntroductionWhen we launched OWCS, our goal was to build an open ecosystem where any player or fan could step up, compete, and be crowned a champion. In 2025, we streamlined qualification through our partnership with FACEIT, expanded the program into China, and welcomed nine outstanding Partner Teams. The growth we’ve seen across 2025 has been a major milestone, and it sets the stage for an even bigger and bolder 2026 Overwatch Esports. Let's get into it.
2026 is stacked with Esports programming. We’re heading into a full year of Overwatch Esports, spanning multiple programs around the world. Expect more ways to watch, cheer, and jump in to play yourself. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a first time competitor this year will get you hyped for Overwatch and our Esports competitions.
The OWCS 2026 season will run alongside the Overwatch World Cup, delivering top-tier global competition for fans everywhere. Overwatch NA Collegiate is bringing the thunder, so get ready to make some noise. FACEIT League continues as the pathway into OWCS, and we’re leveling up player development with even more on the way, including our first-ever official OWCS Pre-Season Bootcamp.
Keep reading for a quick overview of every program;
The OWCS 2025 season has been a breakout year, defined by unforgettable performances across every region. From North America’s NTMR stunning Crazy Raccoons at Champions Clash, to the showdown between Twisted Minds and Al Qadsiah pushing EMEA into the Midseason Championship Grand Finals; this year has delivered on every stage. In the end, each contender’s run met the same wall, two OWCS Korea powerhouses standing at the top at each live event.
As we head into DreamHack Stockholm and prepare to crown a new World Finals champion, we’re ready to reveal what’s coming next for OWCS.
The OWCS 2026 season will commence with regional stages across China, North America, EMEA, and Asia. Each stage will crown its top teams, who will then qualify for a global Live Event to compete for glory, their piece of the crowdfunded prizepol, and the title of OWCS Champions.
We’ll be revealing the new season format soon, so stay tuned to Overwatch socials to catch all the exciting details on the way.
The OWCS Partner Program returns in 2026, bigger than ever. This upcoming year, we’re expanding from nine teams to eleven, and on top of that we will be adding OWCS China Teams to the official Partner Program. While we’re not quite ready to reveal the full slate today, we’re excited to share this growth and can’t wait to welcome all 2026 Partner Teams!
Full details on everything 2026, will be shared later on each OWCS Regional Channel for NA, EMEA, Asia, and China.
We are proud to introduce the newest addition to the 2026 Overwatch Esports ecosystem: the OWCS Pre-Season Bootcamp. This invite-only program will take place in Seoul, Korea this February, gathering OWCS Partner Teams for an intense week of preparation and training for the Season.
Teams will receive exclusive early access to the upcoming competitive build, engage in daily scrims, and collaborate directly with fellow teams and coaches from the broader Overwatch competitive community in Korea.
More details will be announced soon across Overwatch Esports channels.
2026 marks the return of the Overwatch World Cup. This year players and fans will have even more opportunities to showcase their skills and represent their home with pride.
The program will feature a familiar format including Qualifiers, Group Stage, and Finals with the addition of Pre-Qualifier Conference Cups in each Conference, AMER, EMEA, ASIA. Competition will be fierce and teams will all vie for a spot in the Top 8 teams at BlizzCon 2026.
You can find the OWWC 2026 roadmap below. To learn more head over to our Overwatch World Cup 2026 Blog or watch the Overwatch World Cup Announcement segment from OWCS World Finals for more details on how to participate.
If you're interested in representing your home, our Committee Applications are now open! Head to the blog to learn how to apply today!
COLLEGIATE
After a thrilling Fall Collegiate Homecoming season and growing competitive landscape, the Spring 2026 Collegiate Championship season is already shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.
The Spring 2026 Championship season will follow a familiar structure as Fall, with teams competing across weekly matches in both Open and Varsity divisions. Returning powerhouses, new teams, and rosters rebuilt during the winter offseason all mean players and fans are in for an intense competitive field that’s hungry to challenge the status quo.
The excitement builds towards April, where the Season Finals will culminate at a live, in-person event. Exact location will be revealed soon, but teams and fans can start marking their calendars for April 23 - 26.
Eligible schools can register for both Open and Varsity competition
Eligible teams are encouraged to sign up and participate in both Open and Varsity competition. We’ve tailored the schedule to allow ambitious schools to participate without conflict. Excited to learn more about what’s in store? See format and schedule details below.
The National Open Championship Season has multiple tournament stages. Teams will have the opportunity to compete their way through the Main Season Swiss over 3 weeks, preparing their strategies for the collegiate ‘Superweekend’ where they will enter a gauntlet of 6 Swiss matches to determine post-season seeding. The top 32 teams will advance to the Championship ‘Knockouts’, where they will be pitted against one another in a high-stakes single elimination bracket seeded by their Swiss performance. The 8 teams that make it through the Knockouts will then compete in a Double Elimination Bracket ‘Playoffs’ to determine which teams will be invited to the live event Finals in April.
The National Open Championship Season starts February 19, 2026 and eligible student teams can register now through February 12, 2026.
National Open Collegiate Championship Season DetailsRegistration
Opens Saturday November 29, 2025 and ends Thursday February 12, 2026
Sign up here to register for the National Open Championship Season
To participate in the tournament, all players must create an account with LeagueSpot with their verified student email address.
If your school’s student email address domain is not yet verified on LeagueSpot, please fill out this form.
Competition Format & Schedule
Multi-Stage tournament
‘Main Season’: Open Swiss, 3 rounds of Swiss Play over 3 weeks
February 19 - March 5, 2026. Weekly default match day: Thursday
‘Superweekend’: Open Swiss, 6 rounds of Swiss Play over 1 weekend
Saturday March 7 & Sunday March 8, 2026
‘Knockout’: 32 team, 2 round Single-Elimination bracket over 1 day
Friday March 13, 2026
‘Playoffs’: 8 team, Double-Elimination bracket over 2 days
Saturday March 14 - Sunday March 15, 2026
‘Championship Finals Live Event’
April 23 - 26, 2026
Prizing
$70,000 USD Scholarship
The Championship Varsity Premier Season has several stages. Teams will have the opportunity to compete their way through assigned Regional Groups or Self-Select Conferences over 7 weeks of regular season Round Robin play. The top 32 teams from the Groups stage will advance to the Championship Varsity Premier Playoffs, where they will be pitted against one another in a high-stakes single elimination bracket seeded by the NACE Seeding Committee based on Groups performance. Top teams will be invited to participate in the live event Finals in April.
The Championship Varsity Premier Season starts Monday February 2, and NACE Member schools can register right now.
Championship Varsity Premier Season DetailsRegistration
Opens to NACE Member Schools on Saturday November 9 2025 and ends Monday January 26, 2026
To participate in the tournament, the school must be a NACE member and all players must create an account with LeagueSpot with their verified student email address.
If your school’s student email address domain is not yet verified on LeagueSpot, please fill out this form.
Interested in joining NACE & competing in NACE Overwatch Varsity? Have a staff member from your school fill out the following contact form.
Format & Schedule
Multi-Stage tournament
‘Regular Season’: Regional / Conference Groups, Up to 7 rounds of Round Robin play over 7 weeks
February 2 - March 16, 2026. Weekly default match day: Monday
‘Playoffs’: 32 team, Single-Elimination bracket over 2 weeks
Monday March 30, 2026, Thursday April 2, 2026
‘Championship Finals Live Event’
April 23 - 26, 2026
Prizing
$30,000 USD Scholarship
Stay tuned for more COL updates and prepare for an unforgettable march towards the April live Finals.
The passion you bring to Overwatch and Overwatch Esports is at the heart of everything we do. Your energy and commitment are the reason we can look ahead to an incredible 2026. We’ll have more details to share on when and where to watch as we get closer to the start of the new year. See you in January!
