Riot Games Philippines is giving more players and gaming creators a chance to join the Wild Rift competitive scene through the 2026 Wild Rounds: SMASH tournament, which will feature community competitions, creator matches, and new programs for content creators.
SMASH 2026 will have two main events: the Community Champions Cup, where teams will compete for global recognition, and the Creator Showmatches, where gaming creators will battle it out in Wild Rift matches.
The tournament will include qualifiers in Brazil, China, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Türkiye as Riot Games continues to expand its Wild Rift community.
In the Philippines, the road to SMASH 2026 is happening through Wild Rounds: Pilipinas Open, the official local qualifier that started on June 4. Teams are currently competing in Split 1, which will run until July, while registration for Split 2 will open on July 6.
“Filipinos are some of our most passionate Wild Rift players in the world. Their love for the game has inspired us to continue growing our Philippine ecosystem and open more doors to anyone who wants to take part in it,” said Lara Antonio, regional community lead, Wild Rift APAC.
The local tournament will conclude on Sept. 25-27, with the top eight teams from both splits competing for a total prize pool of Php 1 million. Winners from the community and creator tracks will represent the Philippines at SMASH 2026 in South Korea in November.
Riot Games will also hold a separate creator competition from August to September, where gaming creators will compete in different Wild Rift modes, including All Random All Mid (ARAM) and 2v2 matches.
The company is also launching the Wild Rift Partner Program and Nexus Elite Program to build stronger connections with gaming creators.
The Wild Rift Partner Program will give members early access to game updates, private Discord access, and invitations to exclusive events and workshops.
The Nexus Elite Program will feature selected creators in the Philippines, including cosplayers, casters, community leaders, competitive players, and gaming personalities such as OHMYV33NUS, WISE, Yamada, Karma, Guiang Gaming, Vannybear, Raux TV, Kapitan Pugo, Rebengga, Kitz Cua, Razziebinx, Trio Pebbles, Manjean, and Coach Rec.
“By bolstering our community competitions and connecting with creators of all sizes, we are confident that we will put more Filipino gaming talent on the map during SMASH 2026 and beyond,” Antonio said.
