Bigger stage, venue and crowd: What the BFBS Pro League 2026 is all about
What is Pro League?
Essentially, BFBS' flagship esports competition, which seeks to find the top military esports players in rocket league, F1 25 and League of Legends going head to head to crown the ultimate champion in the UK Armed Forces.
F1 and League of Legends were added to the line-up of the pioneering tournament after a bumper first year in 2025 that attracted more than 700 players.
Hundreds of players have been involved in the competition so far, whose qualifying stages have lasted months and the competition will finish with a grand final in late September.
Bigger and better final
The RAF Museum in Hendon, London, will host the 2026 final on Sunday 27 September.
The experience will be open to invited guests, but general admission to the museum can also get you access to BFBS Esports activities, coverage of the grand final in the RAF theatre, augmented reality esports experiences including HADO, simulators and gaming opportunities with RAFAC, Royal Navy STEM activities and live performances from the British Army Rifles Band and cadet bands.
It is an even more open event than in 2025.
What happened in 2025?
Boost Over Ball were the first champions of the BFBS Pro League after a thrilling win in the Grand Final at the University of Stafford.
The day of action was a landmark event for military gamers in one of the world's fastest-growing sports as eight Rocket League teams battled for glory.
The BFBS Pro League is an excellent example of supporting the UK Armed Forces and wider defence enterprise via esports, which are an increasingly impactful means of developing skills, fostering teamwork, and improving strategic decision-making.
What else has changed for 2026?
Another new addition for 2026, the BFBS Open Series champions widening participation in a new community-driven tournament format.
It aims to attract more casual gamers by offering a more accessible way to get involved.
As the Pro League caters to intermediate and advanced gamers, the Open Series is the platform for beginner through to intermediate esports players to take on standalone online events and have an opportunity to have their say on which games will be chosen for each tournament.
Key event information
BFBS Pro League Grand Final
Date: Sunday 27 September 2026
Location: Royal Air Force Museum, London
Doors Open: 10:00
Semi-Finals: 15:00
Grand Final: 17:00
*approximate timings
Event information can be found here: https://bfbsesports.com/news/bfbs-finals
Full livestream coverage will be available via the BFBS Esports YouTube and Twitch, with updates shared across the website, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
Ben Chapman, BFBS CEO, said: "The BFBS Pro League continues to demonstrate the power of esports to bring together the UK Armed Forces community in new and innovative ways.
"This year's event represents an exciting next step for BFBS Esports, opening the experience to wider audiences while celebrating the people that make this initiative so special and important."
Adam Waters, BFBS Director of AI Culture and Gaming, added: "With Season Two of the BFBS Pro League we've been on a mission to expand and enable more esports activities within the UK Armed Forces community.
"The level of competition we saw during the first season was incredibly impressive, and this year we've grown our league with more titles, more opportunities to compete, and have even bigger ambitions for the future."
Robert Wylie, BFBS Head of BFBS Esports, also added: "The Pro League is the flagship competition within BFBS Esports, and bringing it back for a second season is hugely exciting.
"As well as adding two massively popular titles, we want to make sure the esports ecosystem continues to grow, which is why we're launching the Open Series this year.
"It gives more players a chance to compete, gain experience, and be part of the wider defence gaming community."
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