October 29, 2025
Call of Duty League 2026 Season Revealed: Global Majors, Pro-Am Return, and Vegas Championship The new CDL season expands worldwide with stops in Dallas, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Paris — plus the long-awaited return of the Pro-Am Classic
The Call of Duty League (CDL) is returning for the 2026 season — and it’s shaping up to be the most competitive, international, and entertaining season in league history.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as its foundation, the CDL will feature global Majors, returning formats like the Pro-Am Classic, and a massive Championship Weekend hosted in Las Vegas.
This year also welcomes four new team identities: FaZe Vegas, Riyadh Falcons, G2 Minnesota, and Toronto KOI. Matches will be streamed live on both YouTube and Twitch, with global watch parties joining the action.
🌍 Global CDL 2026 Schedule
The new season kicks off on December 5, 2025, with Major I in Dallas, Texas, and wraps up in July 2026 at the Championship Weekend in Las Vegas.
Here’s the full lineup of confirmed Majors:
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Major I – Dallas, Texas (Hosted by OpTic Texas) The reigning champs return home to open the season in front of their loudest fans. Every team will fight to prove they belong at the top.
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Major II – Birmingham, United Kingdom (Hosted by DreamHack) The CDL heads overseas for the first time with a 10-team Major. UK fans will bring unmatched energy as qualifiers run from February 13–March 22, followed by the LAN Major at DreamHack Birmingham (March 27–29).
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Major III – Atlanta, Georgia CDL finally returns to Atlanta, bringing back the Pro-Am Classic. Four Challengers teams will battle CDL pros for the title in one of the most hyped weekends of the year.
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Major IV – Paris, France The final Major before Champs lands in Paris. This is every team’s last chance to lock in CDL Points and secure their Championship spot.
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Championship Weekend – Las Vegas, Nevada (Hosted by FaZe Vegas) The season finale brings the world’s best teams to Vegas for the biggest event of the year. Can OpTic Texas complete the first-ever three-peat, or will a new champion rise?
⚙️ Competition Format & Game Modes
The 2026 CDL season introduces new format changes while keeping the core competitive intensity fans love.
🔹 Qualifiers
- Each Major features several weeks of online qualifiers to determine LAN seeding.
- Major I: 5 weeks
- Major II: 6 weeks
- Majors III & IV: 3 weeks each
🔹 10-Team Major II
- All 12 CDL teams will compete in a round-robin qualifier.
- Top 10 teams advance to the Birmingham Major.
- Top 6 qualify directly to the bracket.
- Seeds 7–10 fight through play-ins for the final two slots.
🔹 Pro-Am Classic
- Returning for the first time since 2023.
- Combines CDL and top Challengers teams in one cross-division showdown.
- Two teams qualify from Major II’s Open, and two from NA and EU Elite Season 3.
🔹 Online Minor Tournaments
- Two 12-team single-elimination Minor events between Majors.
- Provide extra CDL Points and competitive breaks during the season.
🔹 Official CDL Game Modes
- Hardpoint
- Search and Destroy
- Overload – a new mode debuting in Black Ops 7.
“We’re thrilled to see Overload played on the main stage,” said Matt Scronce, Design Director at Treyarch. “This season will be one of the most exciting yet for competitive Call of Duty.”
💥 Challengers and CDL Points
The CDL Points system mirrors the 2025 structure, but adds bonuses for Top 4 placements in Minor Tournaments.
The 2026 Challengers scene also expands:
- Kicks off December 5–6 with the first Challengers Cup.
- A League-hosted Open will appear at every Major.
- Middle East joins the European region for the first time.
- Four Elite Seasons will run throughout the year.
This gives rising talent more ways than ever to qualify for the CDL.
📺 How to Watch
Fans can catch every match live on YouTube and Twitch, with official watch parties, player cams, and social coverage across X (Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.
Whether you’re watching at home or attending live, expect new fan experiences, faster broadcasts, and the most connected CDL season yet.
🔥 Final Thoughts
The 2026 Call of Duty League season marks a new chapter for competitive CoD. With Majors across four countries, the Pro-Am Classic’s return, and a Vegas Championship finale, the year ahead promises nonstop action and unforgettable moments.
The road to Champs begins December 5 — don’t miss it.