The BGMI competitive scene has its first open-for-all tournament of 2026. Upthrust Esports has announced the India Rising Series 2026, powered by KRAFTON India Esports, with a total prize pool of ₹10,00,000 (INR 10 Lakh).
Registrations open on March 14, 2026, and close on March 21, 2026. Any team can sign up. No invites, no prior qualifications needed.
What We Know So Far
The announcement confirms the following details. The tournament is organized by Upthrust Esports and backed by KRAFTON India Esports as the powered-by partner. The total prize pool is ₹10 Lakh. Registrations run for one week, from March 14 to March 21.
Beyond that, specific details about the tournament format, number of stages, match schedule, and how the prize pool will be split have not been shared yet. More information is expected to follow once registrations go live.
Why This Matters for the BGMI Community
2026 has been a relatively quiet year for open BGMI tournaments so far. Most of the competitive action in the early months revolved around invite-only or qualifier-based events tied to BGIS 2026 and other closed circuits. The India Rising Series is the first tournament this year that opens the door to everyone.
Open-for-all events serve a specific purpose in BGMI esports. They give newer teams and underdog squads a chance to compete against established rosters without needing prior results or connections. For a scene that constantly talks about finding new talent, these are the events where that actually happens.
A Look Back at the India Rising Series History
This is not a new IP. The India Rising Series has been running since 2022, and each edition has produced competitive action worth watching.
India Rising 2022
The first edition took place from March 16 to 24, 2022, with a total prize pool of ₹15 Lakh. Wings Lifestyle was the title sponsor, with TickerTape and LOCO also on board. The 2022 event started with 4,000 teams from open registration, who were filtered through multiple rounds. Teams were whittled down from 4,000 to 600, then to 120, and eventually to 27 in the quarterfinals. The Grand Finals featured 18 teams.
Team XO won the 2022 edition after making a comeback on the final day, finishing with 184 kills and 423 points across 42 matches. Entity Gaming took the runner-up spot. Team XO’s Punk was named the MVP of the finals for securing 16 kills on the last day alone.
That tournament was notable for who didn’t make it. Fan favorites Team Soul and Team XSpark both failed to qualify for the Grand Finals after being eliminated in the semifinal stage.
India Rising 2024
The 2024 edition ran from March 5 to 28, featured 32 teams, and carried the same ₹15 Lakh prize pool. AMD and LOCO were the sponsors for this iteration.
The format included an Eliminator Week, two weeks of League Stage play, and a Grand Finals featuring the top 16 teams. Of the 32 teams, 26 were invited directly while six qualified through open qualifiers.
Team Soul (competing as iQOO Soul) won the 2024 Grand Finals with 171 points in 18 matches, claiming three Chicken Dinners. Orangutan Gaming finished second with 151 points, and Team Tamilas placed third with 129 points. Akop from Orangutan was named the overall MVP of the event with 43 eliminations.
The 2024 edition attracted all the major names in Indian BGMI esports, including GodLike Esports, Gujarat Tigers, Team XSpark, Hydra Esports, Marcos Gaming, and Enigma Gaming.
How the 2026 Edition Compares
There are a couple of things that stand out when comparing the 2026 edition to its predecessors.
First, the prize pool is lower. Both the 2022 and 2024 editions offered ₹15 Lakh. The 2026 edition is set at ₹10 Lakh. Whether this means a smaller overall event or just a different distribution model remains to be seen.
Second, this is the first India Rising to be directly powered by KRAFTON India Esports. The 2022 edition had Wings Lifestyle as the title sponsor. The 2024 edition was powered by AMD. Having the game’s own publisher backing this edition changes the weight of the tournament, at least in terms of official recognition.
Third, the open-for-all nature of the event is consistent with the series’ roots. The 2022 edition started with 4,000 registered teams. If the 2026 edition draws similar numbers, it could be one of the largest grassroots BGMI events of the year.
KRAFTON India’s Involvement
KRAFTON India Esports being listed as the powered-by partner is worth noting. It signals official support from the game’s publisher, which usually means the tournament will follow standard competitive rules and settings used in KRAFTON-sanctioned events.
It also adds credibility for teams deciding whether to register. Publisher-backed tournaments tend to attract stronger participation because they often feed into or build reputation within the broader BGMI esports ecosystem.
Registration Window Is Short
Teams looking to enter should note that the registration window is only seven days long. From March 14 to March 21 is not a lot of time, especially if squad rosters need to be finalized or if players are juggling other commitments.
Details on where and how to register have not been confirmed at the time of writing. Upthrust Esports is expected to share registration links through their official social media channels once the window opens tomorrow.
Quick Summary
- Tournament: Upthrust Esports India Rising Series 2026
- Game: Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)
- Powered By: KRAFTON India Esports
- Prize Pool: ₹10,00,000 (₹10 Lakh)
- Registration Period: March 14, 2026 to March 21, 2026
- Format: Open for all
We will update this article as more details about the format, schedule, and prize distribution become available.
