SEGA has launched the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds World Championship 2026 qualifiers, giving players around the world a chance to compete for the title of the game’s top racer.
The online qualifiers began on June 29, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET and will run through July 19, 2026 at 7:59 PM ET. During this period, players will compete through Legends Competition Round 6, which serves as the official qualification period for the World Championship Finals. The qualifiers are open to all ranks, allowing anyone to participate.
Registration is open now through the official Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds World Championship 2026 website. To be eligible for the finals, players must complete both their SEGA Account profile and the World Championship Registration Form. Players also need to link the platform they plan to use for qualifiers, including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or PC.
The top 24 registered and eligible players from the qualifier rankings will be selected for the World Championship Finals, with finalists expected to be verified by August 13, 2026. The finals will take place live in New York City, New York, USA on October 9, 2026, where the best racers will compete in front of a global viewing audience.
Players can also earn in-game rewards by taking part in Legends Competition Round 6. Anyone who joins at least one race during the event can receive participation rewards, including Classic Sonic and World Championship 2026 logo stickers, the “Round 6 Bronze Racer” title, and Donpa Tickets.
Additional grade rewards will be available for reaching higher ratings during the event. Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Emerald grades each include their own Round 6 racer titles, with Donpa Ticket rewards also distributed based on the highest grade reached after the round ends. Ranking rewards will also be available, including special titles for players who finish in the world ranking top 100 or top 10.
SEGA notes that participation reward stickers and ranking rewards will be distributed after the event based on the final results. The starting grade for Round 6 is based on the player’s grade at the end of Round 5, while the final grade in Round 6 will help determine the starting grade for Round 7.
The event is being administered by Open World, with Open World and OS Studios working in collaboration with SEGA. SEGA of America is listed as the platform operator for the qualifier round, handling technical platform functions and certain in-game prize distribution.
Players must be at least 18 years old by the time registration closes on July 26, 2026. The competition is open worldwide, though some countries are excluded based on eligibility rules and sanctions restrictions. Players who qualify from outside the United States will also need proper travel documentation, including a valid passport and visa if required.
The World Championship Finals will use the PC version of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Finalists will not be allowed to bring their own controllers, with only standard PlayStation 5 and Xbox controllers provided for the event. Competitors will also use shared fully unlocked accounts at the finals, with individual profiles prepared ahead of the competition.
The rules also confirm that players ranked 25 through 100 may be considered as alternates if any of the initial top 24 finalists are unable to attend or complete verification. Eligible finalists who complete verification will receive travel coverage arranged by the organizer.
The qualifier rules prohibit account sharing, multi-accounting, cheating, hacking, exploiting bugs, match-fixing, betting, harassment, and other conduct violations. Specific gameplay restrictions also apply, including a ban on “Warp Ring Specialist” and Festival reward Gadgets distributed from June 2026 onward, such as the Spin Dash Kit, for both the qualifiers and finals.
Fans who are not competing can also take part through Twitch Drops. The Twitch Drops campaign runs during the qualifier period, from June 29 at 8:00 PM ET through July 19 at 7:59 PM ET. By watching participating Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds streams on Twitch, viewers can earn up to eight limited in-game stickers based on their total watch time. Watching for five hours or more will unlock all eight stickers.
With open qualifiers, global competition, Twitch Drops, and a live New York City final, the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds World Championship 2026 marks the game’s biggest competitive event yet.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds News and Updates!
Discover more from Sonic City ⋆★ Sonic the Hedgehog News, Media, & Community ★⋆
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
