Sega has published the full annual schedule for its official Puyo Puyo esports events for 2026, marking the 9th year of Sega's competitive Puyo Puyo esports program.
Puyo Puyo Global Ranking Series 2026 Continues
Following last year's success, the globally oriented ranking-based tournament series "Puyo Puyo Global Ranking Series 2026" will continue in 2026. The first event, "Puyo Puyo Global Ranking Series 2026 SEGA Official Tournament #1," is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026. Entries are expected to open in early May. Further details will be announced at a later date.
New Tournament: Puyo Puyo Ranking Pro Challenge Match
In addition to the existing lineup, a new tournament called the "Puyo Puyo Ranking Pro Challenge Match" has been confirmed. This event replaces the former "Puyo Puyo Ranking Pro Selection Tournament" and is designed to create a competitive arena where professional and amateur players compete on equal footing, providing opportunities for new talent to emerge and elevating the domestic competitive scene.
Eligibility
The tournament is open to:
- General players who rank in the top 16 of the "Puyo Puyo Ranking" during the aggregation period from December 1, 2025 to January 24, 2027
- Puyo Puyo pro players who do not hold a berth in the "Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final"
General players who already hold a Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final berth and place in the top 16 of the ranking are also eligible to participate.
Format and Schedule
- Preliminary Round (Online): Scheduled for Saturday, February 13, 2027
- Finals (Offline): Scheduled for March 2027 at Osaki Sega Headquarters (same day and venue as the "Puyo Puyo Grand Prix 2026 Final")
The top 4 players from the online preliminary round will advance to the finals. The top 2 finalists will receive an invitation to the "Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final." If a general (non-pro) player finishes in the top 2, they will also be granted the right to apply for the Japan Esports Union (JESU) "Japan Esports Pro License" for the Puyo Puyo series.
Note: If a general player who already holds a Grand Prix Final berth finishes in the top 2, only the Grand Prix Final berth will be passed to the next eligible player; the pro license entitlement will not be transferred in that case.
Game Used: Nintendo Switch™ Puyo Puyo eSports, using Puyo Puyo Tsu rules (latest version applicable at the time of the event).
Full regulations for the preliminary and final rounds will be announced at a later date.
For the latest information and event-specific regulations, visit the dedicated page on the community service site "Puyo Puyo Camp":
https://puyo-camp.jp/events/19605
About Puyo Puyo
The Puyo Puyo series is an action puzzle game that has been loved around the world for over 30 years. The original Puyo Puyo debuted in 1991 on MSX2 and the Famicom Disk System, with Sega releasing arcade and Mega Drive versions in 1992. The game's simple, intuitive ruleset — connect four or more "puyos" of the same color to clear them — combined with charming characters and its pioneering introduction of head-to-head competitive play in a falling-piece puzzle game made it a massive hit.
The series has since expanded across home consoles, PC, and smartphones, enjoyed by players of all ages and generations. As a JESU-certified title with active professional players, Puyo Puyo continues to thrive in the domestic and international esports arena. Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2026, the series shows no signs of slowing down.
About Esports
"Esports" is an abbreviation for "Electronic Sports." Broadly speaking, it refers to entertainment, competition, and sports activities conducted using electronic devices, and is the term used when competitive play in computer and video games is treated as a sporting competition.
