What to Expect at 2026’s First Pokemon Unite International LAN

This week, we’ll see the 2026 season of Pokemon Unite reach one of its most exciting stages. The Pokemon Unite Aeos Cup 2026. An international tournament where some of the best Pokemon unite players are going head-to-head. There’s a big prize pool up for grabs at the event, not to mention a slot at Worlds. A team could skip half the pressure of the 2026 season entirely by locking their place in now. But first, they’ll have to triumph at this international LAN.

The tournament is taking place in February 2026, running over the 13-15th. It’ll round off the early stage of the Pokemon Unite Championship Series. After the Pokemon Unite Aeos Cup 2026, teams have one less option to make it to Worlds. This is how Pokemon Unite Aeos Cup 2026 is going to work this season

Pokemon Unite Aeos Cup 2026 Format Explained

The Aeos Cup is an international tournament with a slot at Worlds up for grabs, along with a $50,000 prize pool. It’s had an open sign-up format, so teams from across the world have all been able to enter. With just 16 moving into the final bracket. Things start quite a bit wider though with the Pokemon Unite Aeos Cup 2026 Group Stage.

Group Stage

The group stage of the Pokemon Unite Aeos Cup 2026 is the opening round. it’s played in a single round robin format. Teams are put into groups of five, going head-to-head in best of three. At the end, the top performing teams move forward to the play off bracket.

Playoffs

There’s where things get tense. The Pokemon Unite Aeos Cup 2026 has a harsh stage for the playoffs, it’s single elimination. Teams go head-to-head in best of 3, and then best of 5 for the finals and semis. If a team is eliminated though, they’re out. There’s no losers bracket, no second chance.

Prize Pool

What do teams actually stand to win in the Aeos Cup? This is how the prize pool breaks down. It’s one of the bigger single weekends in this stage of the Pokemon Unite Championship Series.

• $16,000 – 1st
• $10,000 – 2nd
• $6,000 – 3rd, 4th
• $3,000 – 5-8th

Of course, the prize money is one thing, but there’s a bigger prize here too. The qualifying slot to Worlds. The winner of the Aeos Cup will secure their spot at the end of year World Championship. Which will be the best Pokemon Unite teams from across the world in one lobby. only the winner gets their slot through the Aeos Cup 2026 though. Everyone else has to fight their way through other qualifiers throughout the year.

How to Watch

If you want to follow along with the Pokemon Unite Aeos Cup 2026, there will be an official stream and potentially even drops! The stream will be happening on the normal Pokemon Unite channels. The official Twitch and YouTube. Drops have been featured in the past for the Aeos Cup, but haven’t been confirmed yet for this year.

We might find out about some Aeos Cup Twitch drops later in the week. Hopefully, there’s some cool items announced soon. Although, it could be a year with no drops until Worlds. With so many different Pokemon Unite Pokemon too, drops are always a bit limited in who they appeal to anyway.

The tournament has its Group Stage scheduled for February 13th. With the Bracket beginning on the 14th, followed b the Finals for the Aeos Cup 2026 taking place on the 15th. That final stream will decide our winner for the year.