Dear players,
Every season of the NRG Series has taught us something—through testing, triumph, dumb luck, and a few mistakes made privately or spectacularly public. In all cases, these moments shaped what comes next. And, the impact is greater in 2026 than any year prior.
Despite all the changes being announced here, the guiding principle has not changed: The series exists to build a space for players to explore games, especially competitive play—and to do it in a business-sustainable way.
✨ More Time to FriPlay
Starting in 2026, the NRG Series becomes the centerpiece of NRG Events, expanding into a full convention-style experience that is still local and affordable. You’ll see more games, more community projects, and a more complete weekend.
NRG Event weekends will now run Friday through Sunday. Friday brings new late-afternoon and evening events, as well as, a gathering space for players before the main competitions begin.
🥉Saturday: Team Trios $10K Showdowns
Saturday remains the social core of the weekend. The Team Trios Showdowns will feature formats that celebrate both competition and connection. Occasionally a sealed seat may appear when the right set makes sense—one designed for traditional 8-player draft pods. As with all showdowns, the winners of the event receive a Champs invite.
💎 Sunday: Dual Track 2.5K Trials
Sunday features two $2,500 Trials, offering players more opportunities to compete and explore different formats. Alongside staples like Modern and Standard, expect appearances from Legacy, Value Vintage, Pauper, and other communities we’re partnering with to keep their scenes thriving. These trials may occasionally be scheduled such that a player who goes 0-2 in the first trial could still compete in the second; however, if a trial is sealed, this may not be possible. As with all NRG Events, double queuing is not permitted and is grounds for disqualification.
🌐 Online Meets Offline
Magic has always been about gathering, wherever that happens. Our partnership with MTGO continues through a new wave of NRG x MTGO Sealed Showdowns. Each will award a direct invitation to Champs.
Only sets designed for standard 8-player draft environments will be used, keeping sealed competition focused and fair.
🏆 The 2026 NRG Championship
Champs remains the highest stage—a $35,000 Pro Tour Qualifier with 24 seats awarded based on the following:
- The defending 2025 NRG Champion
- The 4 winning teams from Saturday Showdowns (12 players total)
- The 4 winners from NRG x MTGO Sealed Showdowns
- The 7 leaderboard qualifiers (1 MTGO, 4 Paper, 2 Overall combining MTGO & Paper leaderboards)
We’ve removed seasonal divisions. The path to qualification is simpler, the standards clearer, and every event counts.
🏟️ Big Goals, Bigger Venues
Our spaces are growing—expect convention space roughly three times larger than the ballrooms you’ve seen before.
Dates, locations, and formats will follow soon. Formats will be announced closer to each event so we can stay aligned with the evolving health of Magic’s metagame and the needs of the community.
💬 A Closing Thought
We’ve come a long way together. The Series has changed shape more than once, but the heart of it—players showing up for each other, playing hard, and building something lasting—hasn’t.
Thank you for supporting what we’re building, for holding us accountable, and for showing us what a real gathering looks like.
See you in 2026.
❤️
— Mark Mason and the NRG Series Team