Epic Games has officially unveiled the Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS) roadmap for 2026, confirming a switch from Trios to Duos competition, two major LAN events, and a total prize pool exceeding $10 million USD.
The new FNCS season will span Chapter 7 and culminate in the Fortnite Global Championship, where the best Fortnite players in the world will battle it out on LAN for a share of a $2 million prize pool.
Here’s everything you need to know about FNCS 2026, including the format, qualification process, and upcoming LAN events.
FNCS 2026 Kicks Off With FNCS Trial in January
FNCS 2026 begins on January 31 with the FNCS Trial, a short-form competitive event designed to place players into Divisions based on performance.
Following the Trial, Divisional Cups will run throughout Chapter 7, giving duos the opportunity to climb the ranked ladder. Reaching Division 1 (D1) is crucial, as it’s the gateway to qualifying for FNCS Majors.
This divisional system is intended to create a clearer progression path, allowing teams to work their way toward Fortnite’s biggest competitive stages.
FNCS Majors Structure Explained
The 2026 FNCS season will feature three Majors, each following the same four-stage competitive format before feeding into the Global Championship.
Play-In Stage
Each Major begins with a two-day Play-In Stage. At the end of the stage, the top 150 duos in Europe and North America Central, and the top 100 duos in all other regions, advance to the Heat Stage.
Heat Stage
The Heat Stage consists of three heats in the EU and NAC, and two heats in other regions. Any duo that secures a Victory Royale during Heats automatically qualifies for the Major Finals.
Additionally, the top 10 duos per heat in EU and NAC — and the top 18 duos in other regions — will also advance based on consistency.
Last Chance Qualifier
Each Major includes a Last Chance Qualifier, open to any duo that has competed in a Divisional Cup during Chapter 7.
From there, the top 50 duos in each region move into a Last Chance Lobby, where a single Victory Royale secures a spot in the Major Finals.
Major Finals
Major Finals are two-day events featuring a total of 12 matches. Each region’s winning duo will be crowned FNCS Major Champion, earn a share of the prize pool, and wield the Axe of Champions 3.0 for the following Battle Royale season.
FNCS LAN Events And Global Championship
Epic Games has also confirmed two LAN events for 2026.
The top duos from each region at the Major 1 Finals will be invited to the $1,000,000 FNCS Major 1 Summit, a LAN event scheduled for May 2026.
Qualification for the Fortnite Global Championship LAN will come through three paths: the FNCS Major 1 Summit, Major 2 Finals, and Major 3 Finals. Qualified teams will compete for a share of the $2,000,000 Championship prize pool.