2026 Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup Moves to Waco

EsportsU, the esports division of Collegiate Sports Management Group, has awarded the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup May Madness to Waco, Texas. The nation’s largest intercollegiate competitive gaming tournament will be staged at the Waco Convention Center, May 1–3, 2026.

May Madness is a multi-title, multi-conference collegiate esports championship that unites top teams and student-athletes from across the country. Schools compete for CECC National Championship titles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, Overwatch, Valorant, NBA 2K and more. The event marks the culmination of a year-long competitive season and represents the championship pathway for 25 official conference partners and more than 800 colleges and universities across Divisions I, II, and III.

The 2026 championship weekend will welcome more than 2,000 student-athletes competing across three days. The event is being organized in partnership with PlayVS College League, which will host its 2026 Spring Championship on-site.

The esports action begins on April 30 at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium with Thursday Night Lights—a new opening tradition inside the campus venue. The evening will feature an opening jersey ceremony, live local entertainment, a high-school showcase match, and a player-and-coach social mixer.

CECC May Madness 2026 will also include a festival-style weekend experience with cosplay showcases, food trucks, trading card game tournaments, an artists’ alley, creator meet-and-greets, a college recruiting fair, high school talent combines, educational panels, and more.

“The growth we’re seeing—across conferences, universities, and student participation—shows just how fast scholastic esports is accelerating,” said Angela Bernhard Thomas, chief esports officer at CSMG. “Esports and gaming have become recruitment engines, retention drivers, and a direct line to the next generation. CECC May Madness gives conferences a national stage to showcase their talent and embrace esports as a nationally recognized part of the modern collegiate athletics landscape.”

The event moves to Waco after three years in Arlington, Texas.

“We’re thrilled to welcome CECC May Madness to Waco and build on the event’s roots in Texas,” said Mike Vogelaar, executive director of the Greater Waco Sports Commission. “The event represents not only a growing chapter in collegiate sports, but a significant opportunity to showcase our city as a hub for innovation, community, and next-generation entertainment.”