The Road to Stockholm Returns | TGM26 ONLINE SERIES
2026.04.16
Hey Contestants,
Last November, sixteen teams stepped onto the stage at DreamHack Stockholm, and only one left as World Champion. Thousands of fans packed the crowd, many more tuned in from around the world, and together we proved one thing loud and clear: THE FINALS belongs on the biggest stage in gaming.
Now we do it again. Bigger. Bolder. Grander than ever.
The Grand Major 2026 returns to DreamHack Stockholm on November 27-29. Three days of competition. Double the total prize pool. And a brand-new season structure built to take you there.
Welcome to The Worlds Greatest Gameshow
TGM26 is not just one tournament. It is the destination at the end of a full competitive season. Across the globe, teams will compete, earn their place, and fight for the right to stand on the stage in Stockholm.
That road begins with the TGM26 Online Series, powered by FACEIT — a structured season of competition across AMERICAS, EMEA, and APAC, all building toward the biggest event in THE FINALS.
The road is longer. The competition is tougher. And it starts with you.
TGM26 ONLINE SERIES AT A GLANCE
What: The TGM26 Online Series is the official competitive season leading to The Grand Major 2026.
Where: The online season will be hosted by FACEIT. The Grand Major 2026 will take place live at DreamHack Stockholm.
When: Sign-ups are NOW open!
Who: Anyone can compete. Form a team of three, add a substitute if needed, and sign up when registration opens.
Regions: AMERICAS, EMEA, APAC.
Prize Pool: $200,000 total. $150,000 at The Grand Major 2026, with $50,000 awarded across each cycle within the Online Series.
How to sign up: Head to FACEIT and register your team when the season opens.
How the season works
The 2026 season is built around one thing: earning your spot.
Each region plays through four competitive cycles during the Online Series. Every cycle is made up of three stages:
SWISS | OPEN ENTRY
The door stays open. Sign up on FACEIT, bring your team, and compete. Up to 256 teams enter each Swiss stage and battle in 3v3 Final Round matches. Win, advance, and fight your way into the next stage.
TOP 16 | THE PROMOTION
Sixteen teams remain. This is where Cashout enters the picture. Teams play through rounds of Cashout Tournaments, and every match matters. Only eight teams advance.
A note on APAC:
For APAC specifically, 12 teams qualify to the Top16 through the SWISS OPEN ENTRY, and 4 teams from China joins through direct invite.
TOP 8 | SHOW DAY
Welcome to the spotlight. The final eight teams compete on broadcast in phase two of The Promotion format, battling through Cashout and Final Round with points and prize money on the line.
This is the show. This is where the community watches, the leaderboard moves, and names are made.
The POINTS system
Points are the currency of the season. They are how you measure performance, climb the leaderboard, and prove where you belong.
After every Top 8 Show Day, points are awarded based on final placement:
Points accumulate across all four cycles. Consistency is king. A team that shows up and performs all season long will rise above a team that wins once and disappears. Every cycle matters. Every placement counts.
What your points earn you
At the end of all four cycles, each regional leaderboard locks. Your final position determines your path to The Grand Major 2026:
The higher you finish, the easier your road becomes. But no matter where you place, there is always a path to the biggest stage in THE FINALS.
The Open Qualifiers
Didn’t play in the regular season? Missed out on the top nine? The Open Qualifier is your last chance to make the run.
Once the Online Series ends, the Open Qualifier keeps the door open for competition. Sign up, survive, and earn your place in the Closed Qualifier alongside the leaderboard leaders.
Remember: it’s never too late to Reach THE FINALS.
The Closed Qualifiers
This is where the remaining spots at The Grand Major 2026 are won.
The Online Series leaders enter with top seeding. The OQ survivors enter with momentum. All of them are competing for the same thing: a trip to Stockholm.
The Promotion
Sixteen teams enter. Cashout filters. Final Round decides.
The Promotion is built around the same structure players know from Ranked Tournaments. Eight teams split into two Cashout lobbies of four. The top two teams from each lobby advance into a third Cashout. The top two from there move into a single Final Round — and the winner qualifies.
Then the system resets and runs again until the qualification target is met.
This same structure appears throughout the season: in the Top 16 stage, in the Closed Qualifier, and at The Grand Major itself. Teams learn the format during the Online Series and face it again on the biggest stage.
A lower bracket runs alongside it, feeding one team back into the upper bracket each cycle. No team is out until the format concludes, or there are not enough teams left to fill the lower bracket. Everyone stays in the fight.
The Promotion - Phase 2
Eight teams remain and compete for a full 1st through 8th ranking. It uses the same core structure as The Promotion, adapted for an eight-team field with lower-bracket eliminations and a best-of-three Finale.
The Throne (Grand Major Day 3)
Five teams. First to three crowns. One champion.
The Throne is a King of the Hill system built for the biggest stage. One team sits on the Throne. The other four battle through Cashout for the right to challenge. The Challenger then faces the Throne holder in a best-of-three Final Round. Win, earn a crown, and keep the Throne. Lose, and return to the pool.
Every crown earned is a checkpoint towards victory. Every return to the pool carries championship stakes. There are no filler matches. There are no safe moments.
The first team to earn three crowns claims the title of World Champion.
The Grand Major - DreamHack Stockholm 2026
November 27-29, 2026. Three days. Sixteen teams. $150,000 on the line.
DAY 1 | THE PROMOTION
Sixteen teams enter. Using the same core structure seen throughout the season, the field begins to narrow. By the end of Day 1, two teams have earned their place in the Finale and one team has exited the tournament.
DAY 2 | THE PROMOTION CONTINUES
Thirteen teams remain. Three more spots to the Finale are still up for grabs. The pressure rises as Day 3 spots decrease, and the final chance at qualification for the Finale draws closer.
DAY 3 | THE THRONE
Five teams remain, and it all comes down to crowns. The first team to earn three becomes World Champion.
Last year, TGM gave you two incredible days. This year, we’re giving you three. More competition. More drama. More moments you’ll remember forever.
The Road to Stockholm Starts Now
2025, NTMR raised the trophy as World Champions with confetti and sparks around them. This year, that could be you. The road is longer, the competition fiercer, and the prize even bigger.
This is our ultimate challenge to you.
One Online season, Three days. Sixteen teams. One champion. It's grander than ever. It's TGM26.
Can you Reach THE FINALS?
