Rainbow Six Majors head to US and Japan in 2026

Tournament organiser BLAST and Ubisoft have extended its global partnership for the Rainbow Six Siege (R6) esports ecosystem until the end of the 2028/29 competitive season.

Announced by BLAST earlier this weekend ahead of the 2026 Six Invitational Grand Final, the company also revealed the locations for the Rainbow Six global events in the 2026/27 season. Salt Lake City (United States) and Japan will host R6 Major events, while Brazil will be the hosting country of the Six Invitational 2027.

The first Major event of the new season will take place between May 8th and May 17th, while the Japan Major will be in mid-November. The Six Invitational 2027 will once again be in February.

The new deal was built following three years of collaboration between both parties. During this time, BLAST has hosted events across major cities around the world, including Montreal, Manchester, São Paulo, Copenhagen, and Munich, among others.

The new Rainbow Six season will bring major changes to the competitive calendar, as BLAST has brought a streamlined structure with aligned formats and clearer pathways to global events.

The new season will begin with the Challenger Series in February and March, followed by the new April Season Kickoff, where teams will be able to earn the first Six Invitational Points of the season.

There will also be two Regional League stages between June and July, and September and October, before and after the two Global Majors. The Esports World Cup tournament will serve as a mid-season competition and will also award a direct qualification slot to the Six Invitational 2027.

Additionally, the R6 esports ecosystem will also expand to five global regions by introducing the CN League (CNL). Featuring a 10-team professional league, the CNL will also receive qualification slots for global events and will be added to the R6 Share programme, becoming eligible for revenue sharing from 2027 onwards.

Robbie Douek, CEO at BLAST, commented: “Over the past three years, BLAST and Ubisoft have worked side-by-side to elevate Rainbow Six esports on a global scale, from unforgettable live events to a more competitive and connected ecosystem.

“Renewing this partnership was a natural next step and sends a strong positive message to fans of BLAST Rainbow 6, and the competitive entertainment industry.”