From Jakarta to Krakow: The biggest viewership milestones of 2026 so far
The first half of the 2026 esports season has already delivered several significant live viewership milestones. By late April, the industry recorded new audience peaks across diverse regions, spanning South America, Europe and Asia.
While some regions show steady growth through local events, others have experienced rapid audience surges driven by publisher investments and the hosting of major international series. This growth is fueled equally by traditional PC and console titles alongside the continued rise of mobile gaming.
Which countries set new esports viewership records in 2026?
The most significant audience record of the year so far was established in Indonesia during January's M7 World Championship. Held in Jakarta, the premier Mobile Legends: Bang Bang event achieved record-breaking reach for the entire mobile esports sector, marking it as the year's primary viewership milestone.
Other notable achievements were recorded in Poland and Chile. Krakow has emerged as a new Counter-Strike hub, hosting its first Intel Extreme Masters event instead of Katowice. This event saw live viewership figures of the series reach record levels for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, Chile hosted the season's first international Valorant tournament, Santiago Masters, which consistently drew hundreds of thousands of concurrent viewers.
By the end of March, additional records were set in the Netherlands and India. The former hosted the final stage of the BLAST Open Spring 2026, while the latter reached a new peak during the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026, the premier event for the local version of PUBG Mobile.
These milestones, along with other regional records, are now integrated into the Global Esports Map. The new achievements timeline located directly beneath the map allows users to filter by global records or specific titles to gain a clearer understanding of the shifting competitive landscape.
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