Evo 2026 is right around the corner with more mainstage titles than usual this year, and everything is almost locked into place now.
The organizers for Evo just released the near-final registration leaderboard for the big event right before signups close, and one surprising title in particular has shot up the ranks.
Unsurprisingly, however, Street Fighter 6 still sits at the top of the mountain like it has since releasing in 2023 though we don’t know the final player counts yet.
But since they haven’t said anything on the matter, Street Fighter’s bracket probably isn’t as big as Evo Japan 2026’s, which broke the record for the largest fighting game tournament in history earlier this month.
Following that, we still have Tekken 8 in second place followed by 2XKO looking to make a strong debut third in the ranks.
Where things dramatically changed from the last Evo registration leaderboard from February, though, is the battle for fourth.
Currently, Rivals of Aether 2 jumped up massively from ninth place earlier this year all the way up to number four, which is big for the indie title.
This would give the platform fighter a $40,000 prize pool at least with $16,000 of that going to the champion.
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a platform fighter on the main stage with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at Evo 2019, so that audience has apparently been waiting and ready for another shot.
We’ll have to wait and see the final numbers, but this could well be the largest Rivals 2 tournament ever.
Following that, we have Guilty Gear Strive dropping down to fifth place, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising in sixth, and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves at seventh in its second year.
1. Street Fighter 6
2. Tekken 8
3. 2XKO
4. Rivals of Aether 2
5. Guilty Gear Strive
6. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
7. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
8. Invincible VS
9. Vampire Savior
10. BlazBlue: Central Fiction
11. Under Night In-Birth 2 [Sys:Celes]
12. Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
Then there’s Invincible VS making its debut at eighth place currently, the classic Vampire Savior at ninth, and BlazBlue: Central Fiction at tenth.
Competitor registration for Evo 2026 closes tonight at 11:59PM PDT!
Get your tickets and sign up at https://t.co/AqoQu9Wxv3.
— Evo (@Evo) May 25, 2026
That leaves Under Night In-Birth 2 and Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage rounding out the bottom of the expansive list.
Registration for Evo 2026 closes tonight, May 25, at 11:59 p.m. PT, so we should be learning those final numbers here rather soon.
Evo 2026 is scheduled to take place much earlier this year from June 26–28 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
