2XKO heads to Evo Japan 2026 from May 1 to May 3, bringing Riot’s second Major event of the year, more than $90,000 in prizing, and a full weekend of tournament play, streaming coverage, booth activities, and competitor rewards. The main bracket is set for Friday, May 1, while the rest of the weekend extends the game’s presence through on-site broadcasts, showmatches, watch parties, and fan events in Tokyo.
That makes Evo Japan one of the biggest early checkpoints of the 2026 2XKO season. For competitors, it is a shot at a major result and in-game rewards. For everyone else, it is a concentrated look at how Riot plans to present 2XKO on a global stage, both in the venue and online.
What Riot confirmed for Evo Japan
Riot says 2XKO will be part of Evo Japan 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Koto City, with activities running across the full May 1 to May 3 event window. The company also noted that all visitors will need an Evo Japan 2026 pass to attend in person.
The official event guide lays out the tournament schedule, streaming plan, booth setup, and the rewards available to players entering the bracket.
Riot also released a trailer ahead of the event, featuring Japanese pros 2WINz Haru and Toshi, ikoan, and poka speaking about competing on home turf.
The trailer is a useful tone-setter for the weekend, but the practical headline is simpler: Friday is tournament day, and the rest of the event broadens into fan activities and follow-up coverage.
2XKO tournament and stream schedule
The 2XKO tournament itself will be completed across a single day on Friday, May 1, using a Mixed Mode format that moves from pools into Top 24 and then Top 8. English, Japanese, and French broadcasts are planned across different channels throughout the day, with the English finals coverage shifting to the main Evo channel for Top 8.
| Stage | Date | Time (JST) | Stream links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Mode: Pools | Friday, May 1 | 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | English: 2XKO French: MK_RZA |
| Mixed Mode: Pools | Friday, May 1 | 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Japanese: EvoJapan04 English: 2XKO French: MK_RZA |
| Mixed Mode: Top 24 | Friday, May 1 | 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Japanese: EvoJapan04 English: 2XKO French: MK_RZA |
| Mixed Mode: Top 8 | Friday, May 1 | 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Japanese: EvoJapan01 English: Evo French: MK_RZA |
Anyone planning to follow every stream, bracket, and social update at once can keep 2XKO’s eight official bookmark links for Evo Japan handy during the event. It is the kind of weekend where multiple tabs will make a real difference.
Booth activities and competitor rewards
The 2XKO booth will stay open all weekend, which means the game’s presence at Evo Japan is not limited to the bracket. Riot says the booth will include seven playable stations for casual matches, with support for 2v2, 1v2, and 1v1 sets, plus a capsule toy machine stocked with 2XKO-themed collectibles such as stickers, acrylic charms, and other prizes.
There is also a cosplay photo element planned across the weekend. Riot says Cyacyamaru will appear as Akali, sakuraba as Yasuo, and Nekomiya saki as Ahri, with schedule updates set to come through the game’s social channels. For broader event developments beyond the venue floor, RiftDaily’s 2XKO coverage will track the biggest storylines from the game throughout the tournament.
What competitors can collect
Players entering the 2XKO bracket have a few extra reasons to stop by the booth once pools are over. Riot says competitors who finish their pools matches can collect an Akali pin at the booth, while those who connect their Riot ID to start.gg to claim event rewards can receive the Blood Moon Akali skin. Players who survive pools are set to get all Blood Moon skin sets.
Those details matter because they turn Evo Japan into more than a tournament stop. It is also a live reward beat for active players, especially anyone already invested in account progression and event-exclusive cosmetics.
How to watch from home
Riot says the tournament can be followed from start to finish through the official 2XKO Twitch channel and 2XKO YouTube channel, alongside on-site broadcasters handling English and French commentary on May 1. The English broadcast team is listed as iHeartJustice, Infernasu, and TNS Proxy, while the French side features MK_RZA, FLASHNO, and Vic.
The stream plan does not end when the official bracket wraps up. Riot says the on-site broadcast will continue on May 2 JST with showmatches, pro player interviews, and additional segments, while official watch parties are expected to run all weekend through the 2XKO category on Twitch. For a wider view of what else breaks around the event, RiftDaily’s news hub is the place to follow the weekend’s biggest updates.
Frequently asked questions about 2XKO at Evo Japan 2026
When does the 2XKO tournament start at Evo Japan 2026?
The 2XKO bracket starts on Friday, May 1, with Mixed Mode pools beginning at 10:00 a.m. JST.
Where is Evo Japan 2026 being held?
Evo Japan 2026 is scheduled for Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Koto City, Tokyo.
How much prize money is on the line for 2XKO?
Riot says there is more than $90,000 in prizing attached to the event.
Where can people watch 2XKO Top 8?
The English Top 8 broadcast is scheduled for the Evo channel, while the Japanese stream shifts to EvoJapan01 and the French stream remains with MK_RZA.
What rewards are available for competitors?
Competitors who complete pools can pick up an Akali pin at the booth. Players who connect their Riot ID to start.gg can receive the Blood Moon Akali skin, and those who make it through pools are set to get all Blood Moon skin sets.
What is happening at the 2XKO booth?
The booth is set to feature seven playable stations, capsule toy swag, competitor pickup rewards, and rotating cosplay photo opportunities across the weekend.
What to watch once the weekend begins
The headline is straightforward: 2XKO’s main competitive action at Evo Japan 2026 lands on Friday, May 1, but the event’s full footprint runs longer through booth activities, creator watch parties, and follow-up broadcasts on May 2. That gives the weekend two clear lanes to watch, bracket results on day one and community presentation across the rest of the show.
For anyone following 2XKO closely, the key things to track are how the Mixed Mode bracket plays out, how Riot uses the booth to build momentum around the game, and whether the on-site coverage and showmatches create additional talking points after the official tournament ends. More Evo Japan coverage and 2XKO updates should continue to build from there.
