The 2026 Six Invitational Finals in Paris are well underway, throwing many a curveball at fans and spectators around the globe. But the biggest surprise came after Fluxio W7M's hard-fought victory of Furia with a new Rainbow Six esports announcement.
A new global region will be enterting the arent starting with the 2026-2027 competitive year. The China National League (CNL) officially brings China's elite operators into the Rainbow Six esports scene, finally giving them the chance to truly shine on the main stage.
Welcoming the new regional league, CNL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IEuR1JSuOJ
— Rainbow Six Esports (@R6esports) February 13, 2026
The addition of the CNL puts it at five official global regions in Rainbow Six esports, joining Europe + MENA (EML), North America (NAL), South America (SAL), and Asian-Pacific (APL) leagues. There actually used to be nine distinct regions, however last year regions were restructured for balance and to make a more competitive ecosystem.
I'm excited to see what this new region will accomplish over the next year. For sure we will see some new standouts and strong competitors in a region that has unfortunately been overlooked for far too long.
