Marvel Rivals is taking a major step forward in competitive play with the launch of its $3 million Pro League in 2026, marking the game’s first fully fledged professional esports ecosystem.
Announced as the next phase of the game’s esports ambitions, the Pro League builds on the momentum created by the Ignite Series and the Marvel Rivals Championship in 2025, which helped establish a global competitive foundation.
The 2026 season will feature a structured competitive calendar split into three core stages, alongside two international LAN events. A new preseason in April will serve as the entry point for all teams and determine initial seeding, before Stage One runs from May to June. The Mid-Season finals are scheduled for August, followed by Stage 2 from September to October, with the Grand Finals set for late November. The format is designed to maintain consistent high-level competition while giving teams multiple opportunities to perform on the global stage.
The total annual prize pool for the Pro League will be uncapped, starting from a guaranteed $3 million USD. According to the organizers, the goal is to encourage long-term investment in player development and team infrastructure, while raising the overall quality and intensity of competition for fans watching worldwide.
Regional competition will also see a major overhaul in 2026. The league will operate across four premier regions: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China. Asia and Oceania will be consolidated under the Pacific banner, competing separately during the group stages before meeting in playoffs, creating more balanced regional play and higher-stakes international matchups.
In addition, Marvel Rivals esports will introduce promotion and relegation, allowing top-performing teams from the Marvel Rivals Championship to challenge struggling Pro League teams for league spots.
Alongside this, a new Partner Teams Program will offer selected organizations revenue sharing from in-game content, utilizing esports bundles and providing long-term support, thereby reinforcing an open yet sustainable ecosystem as Marvel Rivals enters its first official professional era. Applications to become one of the 12 founding partner teams are now open.
