Mumbai is a special destination for BGMI esports. It is a city where champions are made, favourites fall, and some players never get the chance to compete. Three years after hosting one of the most memorable tournaments in Indian BGMI history, the city is ready to welcome another major international event.
The BGMI International Cup (BMIC) 2026 will take place from October 30 to November 1 at the iconic Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium, also known as the Dome, in Mumbai.
The same venue hosted the BGIS 2023 Grand Finals, where Gladiators Esports lifted the trophy. That tournament marked an important moment for BGMI esports following the game’s return to India. Since then, major BGMI LAN tournaments have travelled to cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, and Hyderabad. But for many fans, Mumbai 2023 remains special.
Now, three years later, BGMI esports is returning to the same stadium. Some familiar faces will be there, while several of the biggest names in Indian BGMI will once again be missing.
The Stadium Where Gladiators Esports Made History
The BGIS 2023 Grand Finals were played at the Dome in Mumbai, where Gladiators Esports became champions. It was one of the first major BGMI LAN events after the game’s return, and the tournament brought thousands of fans together to watch their favourite players compete on stage.
Gladiators Esports delivered a memorable performance to win the championship. One of the biggest highlights was Aquanox, whose clutch moments became part of the tournament’s story. Now, Gladiators Esports will return to the same venue for BMIC 2026.
What makes this return even more interesting is that Aquanox is once again part of the Gladiators Esports lineup. For the player and the organisation, returning to the stadium where they celebrated one of their biggest victories will be a special moment.
But this time, the challenge will be different. Instead of competing only against Indian teams, Gladiators will face some of the best PUBG Mobile teams from Japan and South Korea.
Three Years Later, Some of the Biggest Names Are Missing Again
The BGIS 2023 Grand Finals were memorable for the teams that competed, but also for those that failed to qualify. Fan-favourite organisations such as GodLike Esports and Team Soul were absent from the Mumbai LAN.
Three years later, the situation looks surprisingly similar. GodLike Esports, Team Apex Gaming, Revenant XSpark, Genesis Esports, and defending BMSD champions Orangutan have all missed qualification for BMIC 2026.
These are some of the biggest names in Indian BGMI esports, with experienced players and large fan bases. For their supporters, watching an international tournament in Mumbai without these teams will be disappointing. The competition will still feature India’s strongest qualifying teams, but several familiar faces will be missing from the stage.
Home, but Not Able to Play
For some players, BMIC 2026 is more than another international tournament. It is an opportunity to compete in their home city, in front of their friends, families, and supporters.
Two of the biggest names missing from the event are Jonathan and Spower, often called the King and Prince of BGMI by their fans.
Despite their achievements and popularity, neither player will compete at BMIC 2026. Both also missed the opportunity to play at the Dome during BGIS 2023. This means that even after three years, two of the most recognised players in Indian BGMI esports will not get the chance to compete at this iconic venue.
For Spower, the disappointment is particularly personal. Following his team’s elimination, he shared an emotional message about wanting to compete in Mumbai.
“I really wanted to play BMIC in my hometown. All my friends from Korea kept motivating me, telling me that we would meet at BMIC, that I had to make it there no matter what. We kept talking about that moment, and I genuinely believed we would get to experience it together. But now, knowing that we couldn’t make it happen, I honestly can’t put my feelings into words.”
His words show what qualification means to players beyond prize money and trophies. For Spower, it was a chance to play in his hometown and meet his Korean friends at an international event. That opportunity is now gone, at least for this edition.
During our interview with KRAFTON India’s Associate Director of Esports at the BMSD 2026 Grand Finals in Hyderabad, Mumbai was also described as home. For Indian BGMI esports, the city holds a special place. But as this tournament has shown, even playing at home is something that must be earned.
Team Soul Returns to Mumbai, but This Time as Champions
Unlike 2023, Team Soul will be part of the Mumbai LAN this time, and they are not arriving as just another qualified team. iQOO Soul recently won BMSD 2026 in Hyderabad, securing the championship and their place at BMIC 2026.
After missing the BGIS 2023 Grand Finals at the Dome, Soul will finally get the opportunity to compete at the same venue three years later. The team will enter BMIC with confidence after its BMSD victory, but international competition will bring a different challenge.
South Korean and Japanese teams have their own playing styles, rotations, and experience in international tournaments. For Soul, BMIC 2026 is another opportunity to show how far the team has come. Six Indian Teams Will Face Japan and South Korea. BMIC 2026 will feature 16 teams from three countries: six from India, five from South Korea, and five from Japan.
Here is the complete list of participating teams.
| India | South Korea | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| iQOO Soul | NS RedForce | Valor |
| Gladiators Esports | Dplus | REIGNITE |
| iQOO 8Bit | DRX | MAKING THE ROAD |
| K9 Esports | FOCUS | Versus |
| Blitz Epigrotive Gaming | GAME PT | KINOTROPE |
| Team Outrage | — | — |
Among the South Korean teams, NS RedForce will be one of the biggest names to watch.
Dplus also carries an important history with Indian esports. The organisation won the BGMI India-Korea Invitational in 2023, an earlier international event that brought Indian and Korean teams together.
DRX, meanwhile, enters as the defending BMIC champion.
Japan will be represented by Valor, REIGNITE, MAKING THE ROAD, Versus, and KINOTROPE, all of whom qualified through the Japanese competitive circuit.
More Than a Trophy: PMGC 2026 Qualification Is on the Line
BMIC 2026 will offer an INR 1 crore prize pool, but the biggest reward could be qualification for the PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2026.
The tournament champion will earn a PMGC 2026 Gauntlet Stage slot, while the runner-up will qualify for the Group Stage. For the Indian teams, this is an opportunity to reach the global PUBG Mobile stage through a tournament played on home soil.
A total of 18 matches will be played across three days, with six games scheduled each day.
Mumbai Is Not Just Another Venue
When Gladiators Esports won BGIS 2023, the Dome became part of BGMI esports history. That event attracted more than 6,000 spectators, and the champions received INR 75 lakh from the INR 2 crore prize pool. Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra was also present for the trophy presentation.
Three years later, the same stadium will host an international tournament.
Gladiators will return with Aquanox. Soul will finally compete at the venue after missing out in 2023. Six Indian teams will face ten international opponents, with PMGC qualification at stake.
But Jonathan will not be there. Spower will not be there. Neither will GodLike, Orangutan, Revenant XSpark, or several other familiar names.
That is what makes Mumbai special.
It is a city that almost every BGMI player would love to compete in, but reaching its biggest stage has never been easy.
In 2023, Mumbai gave us champions and heartbreaks. In 2026, the same stadium is ready for another chapter. Some familiar faces are returning, some are missing again, and new names have a chance to make history.
