Riftbound Expands Its Competitive Scene: Showdown Series and Rift Tour
Riot Games continues to build the organized play ecosystem around Riftbound with the announcement of two new competitive circuits. The goal is clear: provide more pathways to high-level tournament play, both globally and specifically in France.
Showdown Series: A New Path to Regional Championships
The Showdown Series represent a new tier of official competition, run by partner tournament organizers around the world. These events sit between regional qualifiers — which attract thousands of players — and smaller store-level tournaments. With hundreds of players per event, they multiply the opportunities to qualify.
These tournaments are open to all and available across three regions: North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
What You Can Win
Prizes vary based on event size, divided into three tiers:
| Tier | Player Count | Regional Championship Invite | Qualification Passes |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 512+ | Top 4 | Top 16 |
| II | 256–511 | Top 2 | Top 8 |
| III | 128–255 | Top 1 | Top 4 |
Top finishers also receive exclusive promo cards and standard metal legends from the three most recent sets.
2026 Schedule
Confirmed events for this year:
| Date | Organizer | City |
|---|---|---|
| July 4 | Pro-Play Games | Fort Worth, Texas (USA) |
| July 11 | Excalibur Events | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA) |
| August 8 | Face to Face Games | Gatineau, Quebec (Canada) |
| August 15 | Geek Culture Events | Auckland (New Zealand) |
| August 15 | Battle Bear | Speyer (Germany) |
| August 22 | Nerd Rage Gaming | Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) |
| September 12 | Star City Games | Baltimore, Maryland (USA) |
| October 3 | Spell Nexus | Murcia (Spain) |
| October 30 | CoolStuffInc | Orlando, Florida (USA) |
More dates will be announced as they are confirmed.
Rift Tour: France’s Competitive Circuit
Alongside the official French launch of Riftbound, Riot is announcing the Rift Tour, a brand-new national circuit designed for French game stores. The circuit runs in three phases and concludes with a grand final at Paris Game Week in October.
The format is Standard Constructed — French cards are welcome but not required.
The Three Stages
Stage 1 — Store Qualifiers (July–August) Players compete at their local store. Every participant receives a Jayce, Man of Progress promo card, and the Top 8 receive French-edition booster packs.
Stage 2 — Division Qualifiers (September) The best players from each store meet for regional qualifiers. Commemorative coins (gold, silver, bronze) are awarded to finalists, and the Top 8 receive covered accommodation and travel to the grand final.
Stage 3 — Grand Final at Paris Game Week (October) The main event. The winner receives an English metal legend, an invitation to the European Regional Championship, booster packs, a Rift Tour Top 8 jacket, and a Unity Altar playmat. Places 2–8 also receive a combination of these prizes, with the runner-up earning the Regional Championship invite.
Participating Stores by Division
East Division Lyon, Strasbourg, Saint-Étienne, Besançon
North-West Division Lille, Tours, Orvault (Nantes), Vernon
Paris Division Paris (×2), Nogent-sur-Marne, Nanterre
South Division Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nice
In Summary
Whether you’re a store player looking to level up or a competitor aiming for a regional championship seat, Riftbound now offers a denser and more accessible competitive ecosystem. The Showdown Series open a global pathway, while the Rift Tour delivers a 100% French community adventure, crowned at Paris Game Week.
Source: riftbound.leagueoflegends.com