On April 22, MOONTON Games revealed that the M8 World Championship will be held in Turkey, with the beloved series set to move out of Southeast Asia for the first time. The company also announced its vision for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang at the Esports World Cup 2026.
Where will the M8 World Championship be held?
Turkey will host the M8 World Championship, making it the first non-Southeast Asian country to be an M Series host. While Bangkok will host the Wildcard Stage of the M8 World Championship, the action for the main tournament will move to Turkey.
MOONTON had unveiled the 2026 MLBB esports roadmap at the M7 World Championship Grand Finals. To support this global expansion, Moonton revealed that Turkey will host the M8 World Championship Finals, marking history as the first time the game's flagship tournament will be held in Europe.
So far, Southeast Asia, the game's biggest market, has hosted all seven editions of the MLBB World Championship. This includes venues like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila and Selangor. With the 2026 competitive season celebrating the game's 10th anniversary, MOONTON has decided to take its most coveted competition international.
What plans does MOONTON Games have for MLBB at the Esports World Cup 2026?
As part of MOONTON's "Two Champions, One Game" vision for the mobile MOBA at the EWC 2026, the two tournaments are now equal pillars of MLBB's international mid-season circuit. The rebranded MLBB Women's International will transition into a fully-realised global championship for the women's segment.
As has been the case for the past two years, MLBB will be the only esports title to feature a women's event at the Esports World Cup. The MLBB Women's International (MWI) will be held as a parallel world championship to the usual mid-year event, the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC).
At the Esports World Cup 2026, this women's event will stage its largest edition to date, with open qualifiers spanning over 60 regions. It will also see the debut of the series' Western Europe qualifiers, in line with the tournament broadening its competitive footprint.
Most crucially, the various global qualifiers will help women across the world compete for a chance to appear at the MLBB Women's International 2026 in Saudi Arabia and battle for its substantial $500,000 purse.
"The MWI's evolution into the MLBB Women's International reflects where the ecosystem is today. Our ambition is to set the standard for how global esports ecosystems are built. By positioning MWI alongside MSC, we are creating a unified platform where talent is recognised on the same stage, regardless of background."
- Ray Ng, Head of Global Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games
Meanwhile, the MLBB Mid Season Cup will return in 2026 with expanded global representation by introducing qualification pathways for teams from India, Thailand, South Korea and Western Europe for the first time. These developments come at a time when MOONTON Games has committed to giving more athletes access to the world's largest esports stage.
Backing the tag of "Two Champions, One Game" is the fact that the MSC and the MWI will feature a combined $3.5 million prize pool, the largest for a single esports title at the EWC 2026.
FAQs
Where is the M8 World Championship being held in 2026?
The main event is moving outside of Southeast Asia for the first time in series history. The M8 World Championship will be hosted in Turkey, while the Wildcard Stage will take place in Bangkok, Thailand.
What is the prize pool for MLBB events at the Esports World Cup 2026?
The MLBB Mid Season Cup 2026 and the MLBB Women's International 2026 will feature a combined $3.5 million prize pool, the largest for a single esports title at the EWC 2026.
Which new regions will qualify for the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) in 2026?
For the first time, the MSC will introduce qualification pathways for teams from India, Thailand, South Korea and Western Europe in 2026.
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