Fortnite Reload Elite Series 2026: $2.5M Esports World Cup Qualifier full details

Mahaksh has been a part of Khel Now since 2024. He covers gaming-related news and updates.

Published at :December 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM

Modified at :December 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM

(Courtesy : Epic Games)

Fortnite is back in Esports World Cup

Fortnite competitive scene is once again heating up as Epic Games has announced the Fortnite Reload Elite Series 2026. This is the massive duo tournament path to the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Saudi Arabia!

Players and gamers are excited as the prize pool is $2.5 million prize pool ($1.5M Qualifiers + $1M EWC). Let’s check out more details in this article.

In order to compete in the Reload Elite Series, players must be ranked Elite or above in Reload, have an Account Level of at least 350, and have participated in 14 tournaments within the past 180 days of the Qualifier. pic.twitter.com/iMYTjSOSVk
— FireMonkey (@FireMonkey) December 17, 2025

What is the Fortnite Reload Elite Series?

This will be a duo-only series that features 4 Qualifiers over 6 months. Each one includes:

4 Open rounds → Top teams to Play-Ins.
Play-Ins → Top 80 Duos/region to Heats (20 Duos/Heat x4).
Heats → Top 5/Heat (20 total) to Finals.
Finals → Top teams qualify for EWC (EU: 3, NA Central: 2, others: 1 per Qualifier).

Total EWC Spots: 40 teams (EU:12, NA Central:8, NA West/Brazil/ME/Asia/Oceania:4 each).

Also Read: Fortnite Winterfest 2025: Official start date, timings & more details

Fortnite Reload Elite Series full schedule

Mark your calendars for the series schedule:

Qualifier	Opens	Heats	Finals
#1	Jan 8,16,23,28	Feb 1	Feb 8
#2	Feb 13,15,20,22	Feb 27	Mar 1
#3	May 1,3,8,10	May 15	May 17
#4	Jun 12,14,19,21	Jun 26	Jun 28

Qualification spots by region

Stage	EU	NA Central	NA West/Oceania/Asia/ME/Brazil
Opens → Play-Ins	Top 2,000	Top 1,000	Top 500
Play-Ins → Heats	Top 80	Top 80	Top 80
Heats → Finals	Top 20	Top 20	Top 20
Finals → EWC	Top 3	Top 2	Top 1

How to qualify for Reload Elite Series & prize pool?

Qualification steps:

Elite rank or higher in Reload.
Account Level 350+.
14+ online Fortnite tournaments in past 180 days.
13+ years old.

Qualifiers ($1.5 million total): Heats begin ($296K shared). The top 20 players in the finals shared $1.2 million, with EU champions receiving $15K each!EWC rewards are TBA ($1 million pot), but expect enormous bonuses for Riyadh champions.

Players can queue via the Competitive tab, first-come, first-served. NA Central/EU are going to get priority spots due to the player base.

FAQs

When does Fortnite Reload Elite Series start?

Qualifier #1 Opens: January 8, 2026.

How many teams qualify for EWC 2026?

40 total (EU:12, NA Central:8, others:4 each).

What are Fortnite Reload Elite Series requirements?

Elite+ rank, Level 350+, 14 tournaments/180 days, 13+ age.

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Mahaksh Chouhan

Mahaksh Chauhan is a passionate gaming journalist who loves for old-school RPGs and turn-based games. With a keen eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of game mechanics, Mahaksh brings an unique perspective to the world of gaming. Inspired by classics like Persona, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Skyrim, Mahaksh is dedicated in sharing the magic of games with readers. When not writing or gaming, Mahaksh can be found cheering on WWE superstars or watching his favourite Anime.