This weekend, May 15-17, Rally Cry hosts its 2026 Scholastic Esports Championship, newly titled FORGE, presented by the Army National Guard.
The Forge features the NECC Nationals LAN, the ECAC National: Founders Invitational, R20’s Grand Finals, the Collegiate R6 Championship, and the EGF High School Championship in a 3-day extravaganza.
The Forge takes place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, connecting students with avenues for some of the leading companies in technology and innovation, giving them a chance to see what lies in store for them after the collegiate stage.
Going beyond just a competitive play, this weekend will also include console and arcade free play, seminars and panels for Texas esports educators, and a career fair for those looking to pursue esports after college. There’s a chance not only to watch the nation’s top esports teams, but to also get a piece of the action.
Attendees can enter any of the open free-play tournaments, compete for door prizes worth up to $3,000, and enter sweepstakes to win a Nintendo Switch Lite. Additionally, Rally Cry teases plenty of surprise giveaways, drops, and more at the event.
Scholastic Esports Seminars
The seminars, presented by Insight, ESC20, and Rally Cry, provide attendees with the opportunity to learn “directly from industry professionals” across a variety of topics and formats: from breakout sessions to deep dives to roundtables and more.
Friday’s panels covered student education:
- Gaming & Esports 101
- Career Paths in Esports
- Student Project Showcase
Saturday’s panels focus on staff in esports:
- Esports for Beginners
- Esports for Advanced Programs
- Academic Esports for Beginners
- Advanced Academic Esports
- Esports in San Antonio
Learn more about the professional development seminar here.
On Saturday night, FORGE is hosting a Twitch University Mixer where attendees can connect with Twitch and collegiate esports leaders. The 6-7pm slot is invite-only networking, limited to 60 attendees, but after 7, the mixer is open to all college leaders and event staff.
Something for everyone
Whether you’re a student competitor, parent, esports professional, or attendee – the Forge aims to have something for everyone – and from their initial announcement, it sounds as though Rally Cry and the Army National Guard are looking to establish the Forge as an annual event celebrating collegiate esports. With year 2 underway, there is room for growth in the iterations to come.
