Call of Duty League to Resume Competition in December

The Call of Duty League will return to competition in early December, launching its 2026 season shortly after the Nov. 14 release of "Black Ops 7," CDL commentator Miles Ross confirmed during the COD Next 2025 broadcast.

The timing marks a continuation of the league's recent scheduling shift. The 2025 season similarly began in December, departing from the circuit's previous mid-year start dates. League organizers appear committed to aligning the competitive season with new game releases, capitalizing on heightened player interest following major launches.

Developer Treyarch disclosed no additional details about the esports format for "Black Ops 7" beyond the December start date.

Record Viewership at Recent Championship

The most recent championship, held June 26-29 at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Ontario, drew record viewership. The grand final peaked at 353,525 concurrent viewers, surpassing previous franchise records. OpTic Texas won the tournament's $2 million prize pool, defeating Vancouver Surge in the final. Mason "Mercules" Ramsay earned Most Valuable Player honors in his first major victory.

Total viewing hours declined roughly 6% year-over-year to 3.78 million, though average concurrent viewership rose 23.4%, suggesting more concentrated audience engagement during key matches.

According to Insider-Gaming, league officials are planning a return to Europe for 2026, with a potential major tournament in a U.K. city outside London. Birmingham is under consideration, along with an event in Paris ahead of the season championship. The league last held a U.K. event in 2020 with the London Home Series.

The European expansion would address a geographic gap in the league's global footprint and test international demand for the circuit's team-based competition format.