Madden NFL 26 Championship Series Competitions Return to Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress for Second Consecutive Year

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Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) has announced the continuation of its strategic partnership with Full Sail University to host the Madden NFL 26 Championship Series (MCS 26) at the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress. The collaboration, entering its second year, will feature four major competitions from September 2025 through January 2026 with a prize pool of $150,000.

Building on last year's success, which saw over 40 Full Sail graduates hired and 50 students gaining hands-on experience, EA is expanding the partnership to include content creation opportunities. The company will continue contributing to a scholarship fund and providing real-world learning experiences for students in areas such as shoutcasting and broadcast production.

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EA Esports and Full Sail University Expand Strategic Collaboration

WINTER PARK, Fla., Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EA Esports and Full Sail University are proud to announce the return of the Madden NFL 26 Championship Series (MCS 26) to the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress for the second consecutive year. Following the overwhelming success of last year's events, four select MCS 26 competitions and broadcast productions, beginning in September 2025 through January 2026, will be held on Full Sail's Winter Park, Florida campus just minutes from EA's offices in Orlando, Florida.

"EA SPORTS Madden NFL is proudly developed in Orlando, so it's fitting that Full Sail will continue to be our home for the Madden Championship Series this season," said Monica Dinsmore, Head of Esports, EA. "We're looking forward to continuing to tap into Full Sail's deep alumni network to support our production and provide great real-world experience for students."          

Year one of the relationship featured more than forty (40) Full Sail graduates hired in key production positions, with a total of over fifty (50) Full Sail students experiencing real world learning opportunities during the production. As part of the expanded strategic collaboration in year two, EA is exploring content creation opportunities on Full Sail's campus in support of this year's series. The EA Esports team will once again tap into Full Sail's alumni talent to assist in the broadcast production. Students within the university's media and entertainment programs will have the opportunity to gain hands-on learning experience in areas including shoutcasting, in addition to shadowing the professional crew across each on campus event date. The EA Esports team will once again contribute to a scholarship fund for Full Sail University students.

"Our experience in hosting the MCS last season exceeded our expectations on so many levels," stated John P. Saboor, Executive Director, Head of Partnerships at Full Sail University. "Our partners at EA Esports created a dynamic real-world experience for our students as next-gen industry talent, and our grads who worked alongside and learned from "best in class" professionals to bring every aspect of this iconic title and competition to life. We are excited to build upon this success in year two as we work with our partners to create an even more powerful immersion and experience for our students, grads and fans around the world."  

The university's state-of-the-art esports arena, Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress, will once again host the top Madden competitors as they compete for USD $150,000 in prizing and first grabs at valuable MCS points. Audiences around the globe are invited to tune in to catch MCS 26 action on Twitch and YouTube.

The select MCS 26 competitions and broadcast productions taking place at the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress include:

• Kickoff Challenge: September 10, 2025
• Most Feared Challenge: October 15, 2025
• Zero Chill Challenge: December 10, 2025
• Last Chance Qualifier: January 21, 2026

To stay in the loop on all things MCS 26 follow the tournament series on X and Instagram. For the Official Rules and to register for MCS 26, visit http://maddenchampionship.com/rules 

About Electronic Arts:     
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. In fiscal year 2024, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

About Full Sail University:
Full Sail University is an award-winning educational leader for those pursuing careers in entertainment media and emerging technologies. Founded in 1979, Full Sail has received numerous accolades throughout its over 45-year history, including most recently being named a 2025 "Top Game Design School" by The Princeton Review. Full Sail University is a graduate and undergraduate degree-granting institution offering on-campus and online degree programs in areas related to Art & Design, Business, Film & Television, Games, Media & Communications, Music & Recording, Sports, and Technology. With over 100,000 graduates worldwide, Full Sail alumni have worked on countless award-winning projects with individual recognition including Oscar®, Emmy®, Grammy®, Addy® and The Game Award honors.

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SOURCE Full Sail University

FAQ

When are the Madden NFL 26 Championship Series competitions at Full Sail University?

The MCS 26 competitions will be held on four dates: Kickoff Challenge (September 10, 2025), Most Feared Challenge (October 15, 2025), Zero Chill Challenge (December 10, 2025), and Last Chance Qualifier (January 21, 2026).

What is the prize pool for the Madden NFL 26 Championship Series 2025-2026?

The MCS 26 competitions will feature a prize pool of USD $150,000 along with valuable MCS points for competitors.

How many Full Sail University graduates and students participated in the previous year's MCS?

Over 40 Full Sail graduates were hired for key production positions, and more than 50 students gained real-world learning opportunities during the production.

Where can viewers watch the Madden NFL 26 Championship Series competitions?

Audiences can watch the MCS 26 competitions through live broadcasts on Twitch and YouTube.