It was announced that SNK World Championship 2026 (hereinafter, "SWC 2026") will be held starting Thursday, January 29, 2026.
The total prize pool for the qualifiers and finals combined is $4.1 million.
SWC 2026 Opens on January 29, 2026!
The esports world championship SWC 2026 will be held starting Thursday, January 29, 2026!
The total prize pool for the qualifiers and finals is $4.1 million, the same as last year.
The competition titles and number of slots for the four SNK fighting game titles are as follows:
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (32 players)
- THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV (To be announced at a later date)
- SAMURAI SHODOWN (To be announced at a later date)
- ART OF FIGHTING 3: The Path of the Warrior (Open Tournament)
Qualifiers will start with Frosty Faustings XVIII 2026 in the United States, and the final tournament will feature the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) and the main tournament.
The dates and venue are scheduled to be announced at a later date.
Details on the qualifying schedule can be found on SNK Esports.
Tournament Overview
Slot Details
The total number of slots and point ranking invitation slots for THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV and SAMURAI SHODOWN are scheduled to be announced at a later date.
Point Ranking
In SWC 2026, points are awarded according to rank and placement in qualifying tournaments (excluding the LCQ).
Players at the top of the accumulated points ranking can participate in the main tournament.
Additionally, earned points will be awarded as prize money at a later date, with 1 point equivalent to $1.
Please check the SWC 2026 Official Rulebook for details.
Please note that the prize amount may change due to legal reasons in the host country.
Online Qualifying Tournaments
For Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, online qualifying tournaments will be held in 9 regions worldwide.
Winners will be granted entry rights and points.
Details will be announced at a later date, so follow the SNK Esports Official X (@snk_esports_hub) and wait for further news!
It is exciting to look forward to the heated battles in 2026!
Further details about this tournament can be found on the SNK Esports Official Website.
The SNK World Championship 2026 is coming next year, featuring four SNK fighting game titles!
Qualifiers kick off worldwide on January 29, 2026.
Total prize pool: over $4.1 MILLION!
Don’t miss out—join the fight and stay tuned!Details here:https://t.co/Zn8ocoWMQW
Qualifier… pic.twitter.com/WBS4O9ClgE— SNK Esports Hub (@snk_esports_hub) December 19, 2025
