Epic Games is kicking off a massive new esports chapter with Fortnitw Reload Elite Series, offering a $2,500,000 USD prize pool. The event will provide a route to the global stage at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The new series aims to spotlight the best duos worldwide through a six-month competitive circuit culminating in an in-person grand finale.
How the Fortnite Reload Elite Series Works
The Reload Elite Series runs from January to June 2026, featuring four online qualifiers. Each qualifier includes four phases — Open Rounds, Play-Ins, Heats, and Finals — designed to progressively filter the top contenders toward the Esports World Cup.
- Open Rounds: Each qualifier starts with two opens, allowing players to compete in up to 12 matches. Advancement varies by region:
- EU: Top 2,000 duos advance
- NAC: Top 1,000 duos advance
- OCE, ASIA, ME, BR, NAW: Top 500 duos advance
- Play-Ins: Advancing duos compete across two 12-match rounds, with only the top 80 moving onto the Heats.
- Heats: The top 80 duos are divided into four Heats, each featuring eight matches. The top five duos per Heat qualify for the Finals.
- Finals: Twenty duos battle through eight matches to secure their tickets to Riyadh. From each regional final:
- EU: Top 3 teams qualify
- NAC: Top 2 teams qualify
- NAW, OCE, ASIA, ME, BR: Top 1 team each qualify
Across all qualifiers, 40 duos will advance to the Esports World Cup 2026.
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Prize Pool Breakdown
The total $2.5 million prize pool is split between the online qualifiers and the EWC itself:
- Heats: $296,000
- Finals: $1,204,800
- EWC Championship: $1,000,000
Eligibility and Requirements
To compete, players must meet Fortnite’s Elite rank requirement in Reload, maintain an Account Level of 350 or above, and have participated in at least 14 tournaments within the last 180 days.
Competitors can review all eligibility requirements in the Reload Elite Series Official Rules.
Road to the Esports World Cup 2026 aka EWC 2026
The Reload Elite Series represents Fortnite’s most ambitious competitive revival to date, linking its in-game Ranked Reload mode directly to international esports. As players grind through the new qualification path, the road to Riyadh 2026 promises high-stakes gameplay and world-class Fortnite showdowns.
