BGIS 2026 The Grind Stage Kicked Off in India
Krafton’s BGIS 2026: The Grind Stage Begins
Krafton’s Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2026 opens its first competitive phase, setting the tone for a multi-stage national circuit and India’s broader esports roadmap.
Highlights
- Krafton has launched BGIS 2026 with The Grind stage featuring 64 invited teams.
- Teams are split into four groups, with performance determining direct entry points into various rounds of BGIS 2026.
- BGIS 2026 features a ₹2 crore prize pool.
The competitive roadmap for Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) 2026 is officially underway. The Grind stage, the opening phase of the tournament, started on Jan 17, 2026. The stage brings together 64 invited teams, marking the first step in Krafton’s flagship domestic circuit for Battlegrounds Mobile India this year.
According to tournament listings, BGIS 2026: The Grind Stage will run till Feb 1, 2026. Designed as a high-intensity opener, the stage runs as an online competition and functions as a filter for teams aiming to progress deeper into BGIS 2026.
The 64 teams are divided into four groups: Group A, B, C, and D, with each group consisting of 16 teams. Over the coming two weeks, each group will play 24 matches to secure a head start for the BGIS 2026. After the culmination of The Grind across all groups, the top eight teams from Group A will get direct tickets to BGIS 2026 Quarter Finals, whereas the bottom eight from Group A and the top eight from Group B will qualify for Round 4 of BGIS 2026.
Likewise, the first eight teams from Group C and the last eight from Group B will qualify for BGIS 2026 Round 3, while the top eight from Group D and the last eight from Group C will be placed in Round 2. The bottom eight participants of Group D will start at Round 1 of BGIS 2026.
Prominent Indian esports organisations are part of the opening field, including GodLike Esports, Team Soul, Orangutan, Rivelray Esports, FS Esports, Team X, and Team 8Bit, alongside emerging rosters. Their participation positions The Grind as an early benchmark for form and roster stability ahead of the elimination-heavy stages to follow.
Krafton’s India BGIS 2026 Roadmap
Krafton India’s BGIS 2026 follows a multi-stage format that reflects Krafton’s push toward a structured, season-long competitive ecosystem in India. After The Grind, the tournament moves through Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and culminates in a LAN Grand Finals in March 2026.
Round 1 opens on Jan 26, eventually leading to the Quarter Finals on Feb 26 - March 1, and finals scheduled on March 27 - 29, 2026. Team selection blends direct invitations and participants advanced through in-game qualifiers, ensuring continuity for legacy teams while maintaining entry points for newer lineups.
Within Krafton’s India roadmap for 2026, BGIS 2026 functions as the core pillar, with ₹20,000,000 (~$220,094 USD) pr. This tournament would complement Krafton’s other initiatives, such as Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) and grassroots qualifiers. The publisher has consistently framed BGIS as a long-term infrastructure play, one aimed at talent development, broadcast stability, and sponsor confidence in the Indian esports ecosystem.
Author
Kamalikaa Biswas is a content writer at Outlook Respawn specializing in pop culture. She holds a Master's in English Literature from University of Delhi and leverages her media industry experience to deliver insightful content on the latest youth culture trends.
