Blast and Ubisoft have announced an extension to their global partnership across the entire Rainbow Six Esports ecosystem, extending their collaboration for another three years until the end of the 2028/29 competitive season.
The renewed agreement builds on the three-year partnership between Blast and Ubisoft that began in 2023. During this time, they implemented a redesigned Rainbow Six Esports competition system, held live events and achieved continued growth in regional and international competitions. These included arena shows in Montreal, Rio, São Paulo, Manchester, Copenhagen, Boston, Atlanta and Munich (2025). Blast and Ubisoft have also announced the venues for the global Rainbow Six esports events for the 2026/27 season. These are:
The 2026 Rainbow Six Esports season introduces a unified global structure with clearer paths to the Six Invitational. The year begins with the Challenger Series in February and March, followed by the new season kick-off in April, where teams can earn their first Six Invitational (SI) points of the season. Two Regional League phases (June–July and September–October) will culminate in major international events, including the return of two global Majors in Salt Lake City in May and Japan in November. The Esports World Cup in August is a mid-season global competition offering the only direct opportunity to secure a qualifying spot for the Six Invitational 2027. Throughout all phases, consistent regional performance will earn SI points. Meanwhile, the strengthened Tier 2 ecosystem, featuring a Challenger structure, clearer promotion opportunities and an expanded integration of third-party tournaments, will provide more opportunities for emerging teams.
The 2026 competition system prioritises clarity of competition and year-round narrative coverage of the season, offering uniform formats, optimised broadcasts and greater community involvement.
"Over the past three years, Blast and Ubisoft have worked together to promote Rainbow Six Esports on a global scale, from unforgettable live events to creating a more competitive and connected ecosystem. Renewing this partnership was a logical next step, sending a strong, positive message to Blast Rainbow Six fans and the competitive entertainment industry. With the incredible venues confirmed for the 2026/27 season and our exciting plans for the ecosystem, we are looking forward to continuing our mission to enhance and elevate Blast Rainbow Six Esports for fans, players, teams and brands." - Robbie Douek, CEO of Blast
In 2026, Rainbow Six Esports will expand to five global regions with the official launch of the China National League (CNL). The CNL is fully aligned with the global competitive structure and introduces a professional league comprising ten teams. Qualifying spots for Majors and the Six Invitational follow the same standards as in all other regions. CNL teams will join the Global Standings system and participate in the R6 Share programme in 2026. This will entitle them to revenue sharing from 2027 onwards. The launch of the CNL will strengthen the global reach of the Rainbow Six Esports competition.
'Extending our partnership with Blast is a clear sign of our confidence in what we have achieved together over the past three years, and in the future direction of Rainbow Six Esports. With a unified global structure for 2026, new venues in the US, Japan and Brazil, and the CNL joining as a fully integrated region, we are establishing a clearer competitive path for teams and providing fans with a stronger, more consistent experience. We look forward to continuing to innovate, investing in the live product and building a sustainable ecosystem for the long term.' - Francois-Xavier Daniele, VP of Marketing & Esports at Ubisoft, Rainbow Six.
Meanwhile, at the Six Invitational 2026 in Paris, Ubisoft unveiled their vision for the upcoming seasons of Rainbow Six Siege. The plan for Year 11 focuses on core gameplay, including updates to Ranked and a new competitive mode, improvements to the R6 ShieldGuard anti-cheat system, and new content. Starting with the launch of Season 1, 'Operation Silent Hunt', on 3 March 2026, these announcements reaffirm the team's commitment to community priorities and to strengthening the 5v5 core experience, with the aim of further driving the game's growth as a leading tactical shooter. Season 1 of Year 11 introduces a new permanent operator from Konami's Metal Gear Solid series: Solid Snake.
The Six Invitational Paris 2026 came to a close last night, with FaZe Clan successfully defending their title and being crowned world champions once again after beating Team Secret 3–1 in the best-of-five final at the Adidas Arena in Paris.
