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The first six months of 2026 have once again highlighted the explosive growth of competitive gaming, with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) firmly establishing itself as the world's biggest esports title by live viewership.
According to newly published data by Esports Charts, three of the five most-watched esports tournaments in the first half of 2026 belonged to the Mobile Legends ecosystem, showcasing the game's unmatched popularity across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Top 5 Most-Watched Esports Tournaments (H1 2026)
- Mobile Legends M7 World Championship
- MPL Indonesia Season 17
- ESL Counter-Strike IEM Cologne Major
- LCK Road to MSI
- MPL Philippines Season 17
Mobile Legends Continues Its Reign
The biggest winner of H1 2026 is undoubtedly Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
The M7 World Championship secured the No. 1 position globally, becoming the most-watched esports tournament of the year so far. Meanwhile, MPL Indonesia Season 17 and MPL Philippines Season 17 also claimed spots in the global top five, proving that regional MLBB competitions continue to attract millions of viewers.
Having three tournaments in the top five demonstrates the remarkable consistency of the MLBB esports ecosystem and the loyalty of its global fanbase, particularly across Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian markets.
Counter-Strike Keeps FPS Esports Strong
Breaking Mobile Legends' dominance is the ESL Counter-Strike IEM Cologne Major, which ranked third overall.
Often referred to as one of Counter-Strike's most prestigious events, the tournament delivered record-breaking English-language viewership and reaffirmed the franchise's status as one of esports' most iconic competitive titles.
League of Legends Remains Among the Elite
Riot Games' LCK Road to MSI finished fourth on the list, once again proving the enduring strength of League of Legends esports.
Korea's road to the Mid-Season Invitational attracted massive audiences as fans tuned in to watch the region's top teams battle for international qualification.
What This Means for the Industry
The latest rankings illustrate several major trends shaping esports in 2026:
- Mobile esports continues to lead global audience engagement.
- Southeast Asia remains the world's strongest esports viewership market.
- Counter-Strike continues to dominate PC FPS esports.
- League of Legends remains one of the industry's largest and most consistent esports ecosystems.
As major international tournaments, including the Esports World Cup, continue throughout the second half of 2026, these rankings could change. However, Mobile Legends has already established a commanding lead in global esports viewership during the year's opening months.
Source & Viewership Data: Esports Charts. Full analysis available via .