KRAFTON India Esports is set to organise multiple dedicated Rising Stars tournaments annually. The programme will onboard a new set of Rising Stars across two tiers- Elite Rising Stars and Backup Rising Stars.
After a year marked by strong on-ground impact and compelling growth stories, KRAFTON India today announced the opening of registrations for the KRAFTON India Esports Rising Stars Programme 2026, reinforcing its long-term commitment to nurturing grassroots esports talent nationwide.
Registrations for the second cohort have opened on January 20, 2026, and will continue until February 20, 2026. The selected Rising Stars will be announced via KRAFTON India’s official social media channels.
The Elite Rising Stars will receive ecosystem support such as streaming device assistance, room cards, and additional performance, visibility, and ecosystem benefits. The Backup Rising Stars will receive room card support and serve as a ready talent pool within the programme. Performance benchmarks will be in place to ensure accountability and programme quality, with provisions to elevate high-performing Backup Rising Stars into the Elite group when required.
Commenting on the initiative, Karan Pathak, Associate Director – Esports, KRAFTON India, said, “As India’s esports ecosystem matures, creators need more than short-term visibility—they need consistency, competitive relevance, and clear pathways to grow. With Rising Star 2026, we’ve built a more structured, performance-led programme that rewards commitment and progression.”
Launched in 2025, the Rising Stars Programme was conceived to identify and nurture emerging esports athletes and gaming content creators through structured mentorship, ecosystem support, and sustained development opportunities. The inaugural programme featured seven promising esports athletes and creators like NOOBPARI, SHIRAJ, ZALAIKAM, SAUMRAJ, MERNOX, SAM, and EVIL, who showcased strong progress over the course of the year.
In its first year, the programme established itself as a credible and impactful talent pipeline, demonstrating how consistent guidance, creator-first support, and ecosystem access can significantly accelerate growth. The transformation of the selected cohort participants was facilitated by KRAFTON India Esports through hands-on mentorship, strategic guidance, infrastructure support, and platform amplification, enabling participants to strengthen both their competitive performance and digital presence.
