HCS Invitational brings $150,000 and invited field to Halo Fest in December

Halo Fest in Seattle will have a competitive centerpiece when the HCS Invitational takes place on December 12–13, 2026. Eight invited teams will compete for a prize pool of $150,000 in Halo Infinite, and all eight teams have been confirmed to have accepted their invitations. The identities of the teams are expected to be announced in an upcoming blog post, while the roster lock is set for October 26.

The tournament begins on Saturday with a group stage, where the eight teams are divided into two groups of four in a GSL format. Most matches are played best of five, and the grand final is expected to be best of seven. The prize distribution covers all eight teams: first place receives $50,000, second place $25,000, third place $20,000, fourth place $15,000, fifth and sixth place $12,000 each, and seventh and eighth place $8,000 each. All group stage and bracket stage matches will be broadcast to both on-site spectators and viewers at home.

Teams are invited based on three criteria: an active HCS partnership, documented high-level results, and positive contributions to the Halo community. The format is therefore closer to a curated field than a season-ending championship tournament.

Alongside the invited field, a separate open competition program runs with its own prize pool of $50,000. The open events span Halo Infinite, Halo 5, Halo 3, Halo 2, and Halo: Combat Evolved across a mix of free-for-all, team, and duo formats. Winners of the open events may even be invited up onto the main esports stage.

The HCS Invitational is a recurring part of the Halo Fest weekend, which also features a concert with the Seattle Symphony on Friday, December 11, as well as a convention on Saturday and Sunday at the Seattle Convention Center. The event marks Halo's 25th anniversary and gives the scene a confirmed LAN event, while discussions about the franchise's future continue.