PUBG Global Series Circuit 3 will move to Shanghai, China, from August 5 through August 23, 2026. The three-week circuit will include PGS 7, PGS 8, and PGS 9, bringing 24 teams into the second half of the 2026 season. PUBG Esports’ official announcement confirmed that the circuit will carry a $500,000 total prize pool.
The Shanghai event also changes the points race. Every series in Circuits 3 and 4 will award twice the PGS Points available during the first half of the year. PGS 7 and PGS 8 champions will receive 60 points each, while the PGS 9 champion will earn 120 points.
Circuit 3 Schedule and Format
PGS 7 will open the circuit on August 5. Its Group Stage will feature all 24 teams across Groups A, B, and C, with nine matches scheduled and each team playing six. The top 16 teams will advance to the Winners Stage, while the bottom eight will enter the Survival Stage.
The Winners Stage will run on August 6 and 7 with 16 teams playing five matches. Its top eight teams will reach the Final Stage with Advantage Points, while the remaining eight will have to survive another five-match stage. The top eight from the Survival Stage will join the Final Stage, where 16 teams will play 10 matches across August 8 and 9.
PGS 8 will begin on August 13 and will not include a Group Stage. Teams will be seeded from their PGS 7 results, with the PGS 7 top 16 entering the Winners Stage and the bottom eight entering the Survival Stage. The 16 Final Stage teams will play 10 matches across August 15 and 16.
PGS 9 will serve as the Circuit 3 Final from August 20 through August 23. Its seeding will come from the combined PGS Points earned in PGS 7 and PGS 8. The top eight teams in the cumulative Circuit 3 standings will advance directly to the Grand Finals, while the other 16 will enter the Survival Stage. Eight teams from that stage will join the Grand Finals, where 16 teams will compete across 15 matches over three days.
| Series | Dates | Stage details |
|---|---|---|
| PGS 7 | August 5–9 | Group Stage, Winners Stage, Survival Stage, Final Stage |
| PGS 8 | August 13–16 | Winners Stage, Survival Stage, Final Stage |
| PGS 9 | August 20–23 | Survival Stage and Grand Finals |
Most matches will begin at 10:00 UTC daily. The PGS 7 Group Stage will start earlier at 05:00 UTC on August 5. The broadcast schedule will use 12:00 CEST, 17:00 ICT, and 03:00 PDT for the regular start time, while the opening Group Stage start will be 07:00 CEST, 12:00 ICT, and 22:00 PDT on August 4.
Teams and Maps
The field includes 12 Global Partner Teams and 12 regional qualifiers. Korea will be represented by DN SOOPers and Gen.G Esports, while China will send 17Gaming, FOUR ANGRY MEN, Petrichor Road, JD Gaming, and TYLOO. Thailand’s teams are FULL SENSE, eArena, Made in Thailand, and Sharper Esports.
Anyone’s Legend, GAM The Expendables, and The Vicious Esports will represent Vietnam. The EMEA lineup includes Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, Natus Vincere, Team Vitality, and Team Nemesis. Americas will feature Falcons, TEAM LIQUID, and Godlike.
The circuit will use Erangel, Miramar, Taego, and Rondo. In the Group Stage, the three group matchups will be played in the order of A&B, B&C, and A&C. Each matchup will use one match on Erangel, one on Miramar, and one on Taego, giving the first nine matches a repeating Erangel, Miramar, and Taego sequence.
Why the Points Matter
Only the top 16 teams in each series will receive PGS Points. The first-place team in PGS 7 or PGS 8 will earn 60 points, while the PGS 9 winner will receive 120. The second-place values are 48, 48, and 96 points respectively, with points continuing down to 2, 2, and 4 for teams finishing from 14th through 16th.
At the end of PGS 12, the top eight teams in the annual PGS Points standings will qualify directly for PGC 2026. That makes Shanghai an important opportunity for teams trying to protect an early lead or close the gap before the season reaches its final circuits.
Prize Pool and Broadcast
The $500,000 Circuit 3 prize pool is divided between the three series. PGS 7 and PGS 8 will each award $100,000, including $30,000 to each champion. PGS 9 will carry $300,000, with $100,000 going to its winner. Placement rewards will cover the top eight teams in PGS 7 and PGS 8, and all 16 Grand Finalists in PGS 9. Each series will also include separate match-win and MVP prizes.
All PGS 7–9 matches will be broadcast live on official PUBG Esports channels. Detailed viewing links and channel information will be announced separately.
Shanghai will decide who gains the most ground when the PGS points double. Tell us which team you think will make the biggest impact in Circuit 3, and share your thoughts in the comments. You can also follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
