# What is the “TEKKEN World Tour (TWT)”

The TEKKEN World Tour (TWT) is the official global tour for TEKKEN 8, where players compete for points through officially sanctioned tournaments held around the world to determine the annual world champion. Rankings are calculated based on results across each tournament category, and the season concludes with the “Global Finals,” where the champion is crowned.

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# Schedule

TWT2026 will kick off with “EVO Japan 2026” in May and conclude its qualifying events with “TGU 2026” in November.

Following the conclusion of qualifiers, the “Global Finals” will be held in early winter 2027 to determine the Season 3 champion. The main schedule is as follows:

– March 2026: Additional information, including regulations, will be announced
– April: Registration for TWT2026 and applications for Dojo events begin
– May 1: Qualifiers begin with “EVO Japan 2026” in Tokyo, Japan
– November 15: Qualifiers conclude with “TGU 2026” in Bangkok, Thailand
– Early winter 2027: “Global Finals” held

Among the qualifying tournaments held during the season, the schedules for “Master+” and “Master” category events will be announced within this blog article.

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# Global Finals

The “TWT2026 Global Finals” will be held in early winter 2027, bringing together players selected based on their season-long rankings and tournament results. The date and venue will be announced at a later time.

* Qualified Players (36 total)

– Top players from the Global Leaderboard: 16
– Top players from the Regional Leaderboards: 15
– “Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ)” winner: 1
– Winners of three “Master+” category events: 3 total
– Winner of “Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC2026)”: 1

The major difference from previous seasons is that the winners of the three “Master+” category events and the winner of EWC2026 will earn direct qualification to the Global Finals.

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# About the “MASTER+ / MASTER” Categories

These categories are designated for large-scale tournaments with significant global and regional influence. In TWT2026, they play an especially important role in shaping the overall flow of the season.

* Event Schedule

– May 1–3: EVO Japan 2026 (Master+) – Japan
– May 22–24: COMBO BREAKER 2026 – USA
– June 6–7: SOOP SUPER TOURNAMENT 2026 – Korea
– June 13–14: THE MIXUP 2026 – ROUNDS 8 – France
– June 26–28: EVO 2026 (Master+) – USA
– June 24–26: VSFIGHTING XIV – United Kingdom
– August 14–16: CEO 2026 – USA
– September 19–20: MANILA MADNESS 5 – Philippines
– October 9–11: EVO FRANCE 2026 (Master+) – France
– October 17–18: PARADISE GAME BATTLE 2026 – Côte d’Ivoire
– October 31–November 1: PUNISHMENT 5 – Bolivia
– November 14–15: TGU 2026 – Thailand

* Changes to Point Allocation

Based on player workload and competitive realities, the point slots reflected on the Global Leaderboard will merge Master+ and Master categories, allowing up to the top four results to be counted.

– TWT2026: Top points from up to 4 Master+ / Master events combined
(TWT2025: Top points from up to 1 Master+ event + up to 2 Master events)

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# About the “CHALLENGER” Category

This category is designated for tournaments with strong regional influence and consistent community participation.

* Event Schedule

Based on the performance of Challenger and Dojo events during the 2025 season, at least one event will be selected from each of the 15 global regions in principle. However, regions without any Challenger events in the 2025 season, or with insufficient Dojo activity, may not be selected. The schedule for Challenger category events will be announced at a later date.

* Changes to Point Allocation

Considering player workload and competitive conditions, the point slots reflected on the Global Leaderboard will be adjusted as follows:

– TWT2026: Up to 2 top results counted
(TWT2025: Up to 3 top results counted)

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# About the “DOJO” Category

The Dojo category consists of community-based tournaments where points are awarded through applications and approvals submitted by local tournament organizers.

* Background and Challenges

Until now, Dojo events have been operated under a system built on the good faith and autonomy of the Fighting Game Community (FGC).

However, we have received reports suggesting that in certain regions, some Dojo events may have engaged in misconduct, such as artificially inflating participant numbers. As a result of investigations, events where clear evidence of misconduct was confirmed have been excluded from point eligibility.

At the same time, many cases involve speculation, misunderstandings, or circumstantial evidence. This presents an ongoing challenge: how to operate and make judgments while maintaining the core Dojo principle of trust in the FGC and the policy of “no punishment without clear proof.”

* Regulation Changes for TWT2026

The Dojo category has been one of the defining features of TWT since the 2019 season. It serves as a form of cultural infrastructure for the TEKKEN series, where community enthusiasm has even contributed to the creation of playable characters.

In order to ensure this cornerstone system is not undermined by a small number of violations or allegations and remains sustainable, TWT2026 will introduce improvements and changes to Dojo regulations and moderation rules. The number of checkpoints required for point issuance will be significantly increased.

Only Dojo events approved through a stricter review process will be eligible for points in TWT2026. Detailed application requirements and moderation policies will be announced at a later date.

* Our Philosophy as Bandai Namco Esports

TWT has grown alongside the passion of the TEKKEN FGC. Without the FGC, TWT would not exist. Ensuring the sustainability of the competitive scene has always been our core mission.

With these policy enhancements, the barriers to hosting Dojo events may increase for organizers and operators, and as a result, the total number of Dojo events may decrease.

However, restricting community activity is not our intention. By improving and evolving the system, we aim to ensure fairness and transparency, and to continue developing TWT together with the FGC. We sincerely ask for your understanding and cooperation.

* Changes to Point Allocation

Considering player workload and competitive realities, the point slots reflected on the Global Leaderboard will be adjusted as follows:

– TWT2026: Up to 2 top results counted
(TWT2025: Up to 4 top results counted)

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# Point System

As outlined in the category descriptions above, TWT2026 will introduce changes to the point systems for both the Global Leaderboard and the Regional Leaderboards. In particular, significant changes will be made to the Global Leaderboard. Detailed point tables for each category will be announced at a later date; the key changes are summarized below.

* Global Leaderboard

The Global Leaderboard is operated as a unified worldwide ranking throughout the season. Points are awarded based on tournament results across all categories, calculated according to defined aggregation rules.

In TWT2026, the point slots for “Master+” and “Master” will be merged, with up to four top results counted. Results from higher-tier events will have a greater impact on the Global Leaderboard than in previous seasons.

TWT2026 counted results:

– Master+ / Master (combined): Up to 4 top results
– Challenger: Up to 2 top results
– Dojo: Up to 2 top results

For reference, TWT2025 and earlier:

– Master+: Up to 1 top result
– Master: Up to 2 top results
– Challenger: Up to 3 top results
– Dojo: Up to 4 top results

* Regional Leaderboards

As in TWT2025, Regional Leaderboards will be organized by dividing the world into 15 regions.

While the assigned regions for some countries or areas will change, the overall structure will remain largely the same as TWT2025. Details regarding regional divisions will be announced at a later date.

TWT2026 counted results:

– Top 6 Dojo events held within each region

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# About Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC2026)

Regarding “Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC2026),” for which TEKKEN 8 has been announced as a featured title, the following integrations with TWT2026 will apply:

– The top 8 players from the “TWT2025 Global Finals” will earn qualification for EWC2026
– The winner of EWC2026 will earn qualification for the TWT2026 Global Finals

As in previous years, Master tournaments held in the early part of TWT2026 are planned to also serve as qualifiers for EWC2026.

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Additional details regarding TWT2026 regulations will be announced during March. We appreciate your continued support for TEKKEN 8 and the “TEKKEN World Tour.”