Krafton, the company that makes the game PUBG, has announced some really big changes for how its professional esports league will work in 2026. They’re planning a longer season, more big events around the world, bigger prize money for the winners, and new ways to play the game that connect to the professional matches.

The 2026 PUBG Esports season will pretty much run all year, from March right through December. This is a big change, making it a truly year-round competition. Here are the main things you need to know about these new plans for PUBG esports.

A Longer Schedule for Games Around the World

One of the biggest changes is that the PUBG Global Series, or PGS, is getting much bigger. In 2026, there will be four big worldwide circuits. Each circuit will have three events back-to-back, meaning a total of 12 PGS events throughout the year.

Besides the PGS, each region will also have two Regional Series events, one in April and another in September. The exact dates for these will be announced later. The worldwide schedule will also include three other major international events: the PUBG Nations Cup in June, PUBG being part of the Esports World Cup in July, and the PUBG Global Championship, or PGC, in December.

From the first PGS event in March to the big PGC final at the end of the year, Krafton says they want to have over nine months of almost non-stop competition.

Easier Ways to Go From Beginner to Pro

The new system for 2026 is set up like a pyramid, aiming to connect every level of play. This means from small practice games and local tournaments all the way up to the Regional Series, then to the PGS, and finally to the PGC.

Local practice games and tournaments will still be open for anyone to join. This allows new teams to get into the system and work their way up. How well teams do in the Regional Series will be very important for getting into the PGS, the big global events, and the PGC, especially in the second half of the year.

While some spots in the first half of the PGS will still be given out by invitation, the teams chosen for the second half will mostly be picked based on how they performed in the Regional Series. This makes it clear that doing well consistently in your own region is very important.

PGS is the Main Event

The PGS is being set up as the most important part of the 2026 season. Each PGS event will have 24 teams. Half of these teams will be global partner teams, and the other half will be teams that qualified through the Regional Series.

Each circuit will last three weeks. The results from the first event will carry over to the second, and then into a final week where a Circuit Champion is crowned. Krafton describes each circuit as a “three-week mini-season.” This is meant to give fans a clearer story to follow and keep the excitement going.

Across all 12 PGS events, the total prize money will add up to $2 million. For each of the first two events in a circuit, $100,000 will be awarded, with a bigger prize of $300,000 for the final event of that circuit.

More Help for Teams

Besides the prize money, Krafton is also giving more direct help to the teams. Partner teams will share $1 million in support each year, and new prize money for regional tournaments will total around $130,000.

Krafton made it clear that these efforts are not just about giving money to the winners. They are also about helping teams that play the whole season to keep going and be more stable. This is meant to be a long-term investment, not just a one-time boost.

Playing the Game and Getting Fans Involved

The company is also working to bring the esports experience closer to how people play PUBG every day. For 2026, they plan to improve the ‘Pick’em Challenge,’ add an ‘Esports Fantasy League’ inside the game, and introduce a new ‘Esports Pass.’ All these things are meant to get more fans involved.

Krafton also mentioned they are trying to make the ‘Ranked Mode’ in the game more like the professional settings. This includes making sure game updates happen at the same time for everyone, to make the difference between regular play and professional competition smaller.

With its longer schedule, clearer paths for players, and more ways to get involved in the game, Krafton says the 2026 season is a big step. It aims to make the PUBG esports world healthier and more lasting, and to bring players, teams, and fans closer together.