Embark Studios has announced a new $200,000 global competitive circuit for THE FINALS, expanding its esports ambitions with a live championship at DreamHack Stockholm later this year.
The TGM26 Online Series will act as the entry point for the game’s 2026 competitive season, covering the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. This circuit will lead to The Grand Major 2026 event in Stockholm from Nov. 27-29.
This move signifies Embark’s commitment to establishing THE FINALS as a structured global esports ecosystem rather than just a one-time event. Registration for the online series is now open on FACEIT.
Teams of three can enter the competition without prior qualification, participating in four seasonal cycles in each region. Points will be awarded based on performance, with the leaderboard determining qualification for the year-end championship.
Embark’s executive producer, Christian Aarsrud, stated, “The Online Series aims to make competitive play more accessible and provide teams with a clear path to top-tier competition.”
The $200,000 prize pool for the season will be divided, with $50,000 for the online series and $150,000 for the Stockholm final.
The competition structure is designed to balance accessibility with ongoing competitive play, featuring open-entry stages, promotion phases, and a broadcasted Top 8 Show Day for teams to earn rewards.
Qualification for The Grand Major 2026 will be based on leaderboard performance across all cycles, with first-place finishers receiving direct invitations and others moving through qualifiers.
The year-end event will host 16 teams in a three-day live format, including a King-of-the-Hill championship round called The Throne.
Embark’s partnership with ESL FACEIT Group aims to provide a grassroots path for players to transition from casual gaming to competitive esports. Over 1,600 teams participated in the debut season, and the 2026 campaign is set to kick off in May.
The APAC portion of the circuit will begin on May 30, hosted on FACEIT, with DreamHack Stockholm returning as the live championship venue.