Riot Games has announced the first European Regional Championship for its strategic trading card game, Riftbound. Held at Messe Stuttgart in Germany from 6 to 8 November 2026, the tournament will gather qualified players across the continent to compete for a $50,000 prize pool and eight invitations to the upcoming Riftbound World Championship.
The event marks a key milestone for the physical card game, which was previously covered on Geek Native under its working codename Project K. As one of only two Regional Championships globally alongside the North American tournament in Las Vegas, the Stuttgart gathering represents the final competitive gateway before the inaugural World Championship.
Competitors face a demanding turnaround ahead of the event. The tournament will be played in the Standard format and incorporates cards from Radiance, the game’s fifth expansion set, which launches on 23 October 2026. This leaves qualified players just two weeks to acquire new cards, construct decks, and test strategies before competing on the main stage.
Entry is open to anyone who secured a Top 64 finish in a Regional Qualifier. Because invitations are not region-locked, players can choose between competing in Stuttgart or attending the North American Championship at Convergence Fest in Las Vegas from 11 to 13 December 2026. Players who earned multiple qualification spots are permitted to compete in both events.
Beyond the main tournament, players who advance to Day 2 will earn limited-edition playmats, promo cards, and exclusive Best-Of cards. For casual attendees, Messe Stuttgart will feature side events, on-demand tournaments, a prize wall, official merchandise, and a dedicated broadcast viewing area.
The championship sits at the top of a structured play system. According to official play documents, the game’s ecosystem scales from weekly in-store Nexus Nights and monthly Nexus Cups up through Challenge Series, Showdown Series, and Regional Qualifiers before reaching continental and world-level tournaments.
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