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Mario Kart World Fall Cup 2026: the Dec. 12 championship, how to qualify through the Mario Kart World Open and the prizes
The Mario Kart World Fall Cup 2026 is Nintendo of America's online Mario Kart World tournament for players in the US, Canada and Mexico, and its championship runs on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, from 1 p.m. PT. Players qualify through the monthly Mario Kart World Open events, where the top 24 scorers from each of three qualifiers reach the championship. The September and October qualifiers are done, and the last one, the Mario Kart World Open November 2026, runs from Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. PT to Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. PT with Event ID 3616. The 72 qualifiers race in three groups of 24, the top eight from each reach a 24-player final, and the winner gets a Mario Kart World Grand Prize Trophy, a NintendoVS backpack and patches, worth $379.74.
- Switch 2
The Mario Kart World Fall Cup 2026 championship is on Dec. 12, and the last way in is the Mario Kart World Open on Nov. 21 and 22. Here’s the schedule, how to qualify, how the final works, the prizes and the results so far.
When is the Mario Kart World Fall Cup 2026?
The championship runs on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, from 1 p.m. PT to about 6 p.m. PT. Nintendo of America organizes the tournament, and it’s open to legal residents of the US, including D.C., Canada and Mexico, who must be at least 13 in the US and Canada and 18 in Mexico.
The Fall Cup has four events: three qualifiers and the championship. Every stage is played online on Switch 2. Entering costs nothing, though you need the game and any Nintendo Switch Online membership, which can be a free trial.
The qualifiers: Mario Kart World Open
The qualifiers are Nintendo’s monthly Mario Kart World Open events. The September event ran from Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. PT to Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. PT, and the October event from Oct. 17 to Oct. 18 on the same schedule. The last one, the Mario Kart World Open November 2026, runs from Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. PT to Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. PT, with Event ID 3616.
The top 24 players by in-game score in each qualifier earn a championship spot, for 72 in all. Nintendo identifies them about five business days after each event and emails them within 10 business days, and they have five days to respond. A player who makes the top 24 more than once qualifies through the first event, and the spot passes to the next-highest scorer.
How to enter and the settings
In Mario Kart World, pick Online Play, press the minus button to search for an event and type the four-digit Event ID. You need a Switch 2, the game, a Nintendo Account and any Nintendo Switch Online membership.
The qualifiers use VS Race at 150cc, with no teams, normal items, no COM racers and connected course selection. Each player can race up to 32 times during the event, and if two players tie, the one who reached the score first ranks higher. Players in North and South America also get 50 My Nintendo Platinum Points for taking part in each Open.
How the Dec. 12 championship works
The 72 qualifiers split into three groups of 24. Group 1 races at 1 p.m. PT, Group 2 at 2 p.m. PT and Group 3 at 3 p.m. PT, each playing six races at 150cc with normal items and COM difficulty set to Normal, with a one-minute break between races.
The top eight from each group reach the final at 4 p.m. PT, a single 24-player room, and in-game score decides the standings. Nintendo hosts every room and requires players to check in within 10 minutes of the start. Nintendo hasn’t announced a broadcast, though its rules let it stream and record the championship.
Prizes
The winner gets a Mario Kart World Grand Prize Trophy, valued at $350, a NintendoVS backpack and a set of Mario Kart World decorative patches, worth $379.74 together. Second place gets a First Prize Trophy and the same gear, worth $329.74, and third gets a Second Prize Trophy package worth $279.74.
Places 4 through 24 each get the backpack and patches, worth $29.74. That’s 24 prize packages worth $1,613.76 in all, and there are no cash prizes.
Results so far
The September qualifier’s top score was 9,886, by the player Gains, and 24th place, the last qualifying spot, scored 9,128. EmilP, who won the August Open with 9,160 before the Fall Cup began, finished 10th in September with 9,374. Nintendo hasn’t posted the October rankings as of Oct. 19, 2026.
The July 2026 Open topped out at 9,261, and each of its top five players raced as Swoop. Nintendo’s earlier Mario Kart World Global Online Challenge, from June 4 to 11, 2026, peaked at 9,904.
More Mario Kart World and esports
Mario Kart World has added courses and modes through free updates, as our Mario Kart World update and Mario Kart World DLC pages explain. The Fall Cup final lands on the opening day of the HCS Invitational at Halo Fest in Seattle, as our Halo World Championship 2026 page covers.
This page is updated as soon as Nintendo posts the October or November qualifier rankings or the Fall Cup championship results.
FAQ
When is the Mario Kart World Fall Cup 2026?
The championship is on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, from 1 p.m. PT to about 6 p.m. PT, online. Three qualifiers come first, on Sept. 19 and 20, Oct. 17 and 18 and Nov. 21 and 22.
When is the next Mario Kart World Open?
The Mario Kart World Open November 2026 runs from Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. PT to Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. PT, with Event ID 3616. It’s the last qualifier for the Fall Cup 2026.
How do you qualify for the Mario Kart World Fall Cup?
Finish in the top 24 by in-game score in one of the three Mario Kart World Open qualifiers. Nintendo emails the top 24 from each event within 10 business days, and players have five days to respond.
How do you join the Mario Kart World Open?
In Mario Kart World, pick Online Play, press the minus button to search for an event and enter the four-digit Event ID, 3616 for November. You need a Switch 2, the game, a Nintendo Account and any Nintendo Switch Online membership, including a free trial.
Who can enter the Mario Kart World Fall Cup?
Legal residents of the US, including D.C., Canada and Mexico who play from those countries. Players must be at least 13 in the US and Canada and at least 18 in Mexico.
What are the Mario Kart World Open settings?
VS Race at 150cc, with no teams, normal items, no COM racers and connected course selection, and each player can race up to 32 times. Ties go to the player who reached the score first.
How does the Fall Cup championship work?
The 72 qualifiers race in three groups of 24 at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. PT on Dec. 12, with six races each at 150cc and COM difficulty set to Normal. The top eight from each group reach the 24-player final at 4 p.m. PT, and in-game score decides the winner.
What are the Mario Kart World Fall Cup prizes?
The winner gets a Mario Kart World Grand Prize Trophy, a NintendoVS backpack and a set of Mario Kart World patches, worth $379.74. Second and third place get trophies too, and 4th through 24th get the backpack and patches. The total is $1,613.76, with no cash prizes.
Do you get anything for entering the Mario Kart World Open?
Players in North and South America get 50 My Nintendo Platinum Points for taking part in each event. Points for the October event are ready to claim on or about Oct. 27, 2026.
Who won the September Mario Kart World Open?
The top score was 9,886, by the player Gains, and 24th place, the last qualifying spot, scored 9,128. Nintendo posts the top 100 for each event on its Mario Kart World online events page.
Are the October Mario Kart World Open results out?
Nintendo hasn’t posted them as of Oct. 19, 2026. The event ended on Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. PT, and Nintendo identifies the top 24 about five business days after each qualifier.
Can you watch the Mario Kart World Fall Cup?
Nintendo hasn’t announced a broadcast. The championship is played online in rooms Nintendo hosts, and the official rules let Nintendo stream and record it.
Can you qualify twice?
A player who finishes in the top 24 of more than one qualifier qualifies through the first one, and the spot passes to the next-highest scorer, so each qualifier sends 24 different players.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
How many players reach the Mario Kart World Fall Cup 2026 final?
72 qualifiers race in three groups of 24, and the top eight from each group make a 24-player final at 4 p.m. PT on Dec. 12.
Your call
Are you entering the November Mario Kart World Open?
