The excitement is building as the gaming community gears up for another thrilling season of the Call of Duty League (CDL). With new locations and format changes announced for 2026, fans are eager to see what this year has in store. Major tournaments will captivate audiences across North America and Europe, leading up to a grand Championship Weekend.
The Call of Duty League (CDL) has revealed the locations and format adjustments for the 2026 season, promising an exciting year for fans.
Call of Duty League 2026 Locations
The 2026 CDL season kicks off with its first Major in Dallas, Texas, from January 29th to February 1st, hosted by the reigning champions, OpTic Texas. Excitingly, the league is making a return to the UK for the first time in five years as part of DreamHack Birmingham from March 27th to 29th. Major three will unfold in Atlanta, Georgia, featuring a Pro-Am event where Challengers teams face off against the 12 CDL franchises. The fourth Major lands in Paris, France, from June 25th to 28th. To conclude the season, the CDL Championship Weekend is set in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 16th to 19th, hosted by the rebranded FaZe Vegas. Additionally, Black Ops 7 will shine at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
CDL 2026 Format Changes
A major format change is the replacement of Control with Overload, a new objective game mode, joining Hardpoint and Search and Destroy. Each Major will have online qualifiers for LAN tournament seeding. Major 1 will have five weeks of qualifiers, Major 2 will have six, and the final two Majors will have three weeks. Notably, Major 2 will feature a round-robin qualifying tournament for the first time, with the top ten teams advancing to Birmingham. The Pro Am Classic returns in Major 3, where top Challengers teams from Major 2 and winners of North America and Europe’s Elite Season 3 will qualify.
CDL Challengers In 2026
The CDL Challengers circuit sees a revamp for 2026, with an Open LAN event at each Major and four Elite seasons per region. The Middle East joins the circuit, integrating with Europe to give regional players a competitive stage. The first opportunity for amateur teams comes with the online Challengers Cup on December 12th.