Afterburner 2026 is closer than ever! Indiana’s largest fighting game tournament is returning for its third year this weekend at Kruse Plaza in Auburn, Indiana. Hosting a variety of fighting game brackets, Odyssey Esports is gearing up to produce its largest tournament to date. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Smash Bros. Melee, 2XKO, Street Fighter 6, and Rivals of Aether 2 game titles will be available at Afterburner 2026.

Last year, Afterburner 2025 solidified itself as a nationally ranked event. Now, this major-level event is set to break its own records as the largest FGC event in Indiana history. Players from Japan are flying in to attend this once-a-year event; Miya (LumiRank Worldwide #4) and Carmelo (Worldwide #15) will be soaring in to bring the heat. Odyssey Esports has confirmed the attendance of many other high-ranking players, including Zomba (Worldwide #11), Light (Worldwide #16), Peabnut (Worldwide #22), Kola (Worldwide #23), and Lima (Worldwide #24). Over 20 players ranked in the Top 150 for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will attend Afterburner, leading to some intense matches! Odyssey Esports has projected over 400 total competitors and 500 overall attendees, making this tournament a must-see event for fighting game fans.

The tournament is held at the Kruse Plaza in Auburn, Indiana. Registration for Afterburner 2026 is currently open at start.gg/afterburner. Spectators can purchase tickets online or at the door for $20. This purchase includes a bonus pass for guardians of an attending minor. Various game controller and art vendors will be available in the venue.

This year, Afterburner 2026 is extending the tournament to host collegiate crew battles on Friday. Collegiate crews will be a 4v4 team bracket held primarily on Friday, with finals held on Sunday morning. Many well-known university teams will be in attendance, such as Manchester University, University of Akron, Purdue Fort Wayne, Cleveland State University, and more. Saturday will begin with Smash Ultimate Singles as well as Smash Ultimate Doubles, Smash Melee Singles, Melee Doubles, Street Fighter 6, and Rivals of Aether 2 Doubles. Saturday will also include Afterburner’s first 2XKO bracket. Afterburner will kick off its final day, Sunday, with Rivals of Aether 2 Singles followed by Collegiate finals. Sunday also boasts the most intense of Ultimate Singles with Top 8 beginning around 4:30 PM. This action will all be livestreamed to Twitch with an estimated 5,000-10,000 total unique viewer count watching from around the world!

The esports industry has been growing rapidly. Thousands of pro esports gamers are now watched by millions of viewers around the world. Colleges around the world are growing esports programs for students to compete and receive scholarships like other athletes. Offline events, such as Afterburner, are an important component for players to grow their strengths without having to worry about the internet or connection errors. Competing in person allows gamers to bond and create relationships through mutual interests. These in-person events allow players to put their abilities to the test while also building a strong community

Odyssey Esports is a local esports organization dedicated to bringing high-quality gaming tournaments to players in Northeast Indiana. Alongside major events like Afterburner 2026, Odyssey Esports also hosts local weekly events at the Odyssey Game Lounge in Fort Wayne, Indiana. These events include a free-play night open for anyone to join and weekly tournaments for Smash Ultimate and Smash Melee. The Odyssey Game Lounge is also a host to private gaming events and even gaming-themed birthday parties!

Learn more or book an event here – https://odysseygamelounge.com/

For media or event inquiries, please contact landon@theodysseyesports.com

Tournament Page: https://www.start.gg/afterburner

Website: https://theodysseyesports.com