As Six Invitational 2026 came to an end, Rainbow Six: Siege is gearing up for the next eventful year of its esports scene, with multiple global events, a new Season Kickoff, and the official introduction of the China regional league, CNL.
Here’s everything you can expect from the Rainbow Six: Siege esports in 2026, leading to the Six Invitational at the beginning of 2027.
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Rainbows Six esports 2026/27 event schedule
The 2026 year for Rainbow Six: Siege esports features regional leagues, two Majors, and the Esports World Cup. Throughout the year, teams earn SI points and compete for spots at the Six Invitational in February 2027.
Here’s the calendar of Rainbow Six: Siege esports events in 2026/27:
- Challenger Series (Off-season): March
- Season Kickoff: April
- Salt Lake City Major: May 8 – May 17
- Stage 1: June – July
- Esports World Cup: August
- Stage 2: September – October
- Japan Major: Nov. 6 – Nov. 15
- Six Invitational 2027 Last Chance Qualifiers: December – January
- Six Invitational 2027 Brazil: February
Challenger Series takes place during the off-season and is the entry point into the top-tier Rainbow Six: Siege circuit. Teams compete across all regions (South America, North America, Europe MENA, and Asia Pacific) for the chance to advance into their respective regional leagues.
Season Kickoff is the new addition to the competitive season, sending teams straight into the action to earn their first SI points and secure spots at the Salt Lake City Major. The top four teams from every regional league during Season Kickoff qualify for the Major, and the same is for the November Major based on Stage 2 performance.
Esports World Cup also joins the circuit as the core mid-season event with a $2 million prize pool. Teams qualify for the EWC based on their Stage 1 performance, except for Team Secret receiving an automatic invitation to defend its crown.
SI Points and Six Invitational 2027 qualification
In 2026, regional league finals are removed, making qualification to the Six Invitational a season-long race primarily driven by SI Points. Teams earn SI Points based on their performance in Season Kickoff, Stage 1 and Stage 2 regional leagues, and Majors.
The top 14 teams by SI Points at the end of the season, the winner of each Major, the winner of EWC, and the winner of each of the five regional Last Chance Qualifiers qualify for the Six Invitational 2027.
CNL joins Rainbow Six esports
In 2026, China joins Rainbow Six: Siege esports as the fifth region. CNL features a 10‑team professional league whose qualification slots for Majors and the Six Invitational follow the same rules as all other regions. CNL teams also join the Global Standings system and enter the R6 SHARE program, becoming eligible for revenue sharing starting in 2027.
CNL has its own qualification pathways to international events, and more information will be revealed close to the start of the season.
