The Ireland Esports Collegiate Series (IECS) has announced that its 2025/26 National Finals will take place live at GamerFest in the RDS Main Hall across May 23rd and 24th.

Supported by Red Bull Ireland and delivered in collaboration with GamerFest, the event will bring together the top collegiate teams in Ireland across VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2. Finalists will compete live on stage for national titles and the title of top-performing university esports programme at Ireland’s biggest gaming festival.

The National Finals conclude the first full year of the IECS Premier Division structure, which introduced continuous competition across both Winter and Spring semesters in a format designed to more closely mirror traditional university sport.

Now entering its eighth consecutive season, the Ireland Esports Collegiate Series has grown into Ireland’s largest collegiate esports competition, featuring more than 1,070 students from 15 universities and colleges competing across Open and Premier Divisions during the 2025/26 season.

The Finals arrive during a period of continued growth for collegiate esports in Ireland, with universities increasing investment in gaming and esports infrastructure across campus communities.

Recent developments across the sector include dedicated gaming hubs at SETU and Queen’s University Belfast, esports hardware investment at Dublin City University and the establishment of standalone esports societies at Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin.

Kurt Pittman, CEO of Ireland Esports Leagues, said: “Bringing the Collegiate Series National Finals to the GamerFest Red Bull Live Stage is a major milestone for collegiate esports in Ireland.

Over the past eight seasons we’ve seen university esports communities evolve from small student-led societies into structured competitive programmes supported by campuses, national communities and industry partners.

The level of competition, production and participation across this year’s series reflects how quickly the ecosystem is maturing, and we’re excited to showcase Ireland’s top collegiate talent live at GamerFest this May.”

GamerFest Director of Partnerships Colm Roche goes on to say: “We are delighted to welcome back the Ireland Esports Collegiate Series, bringing the National Finals to life at Ireland’s largest Gaming Festival. 

Having Red Bull partner with both rights holders is a true testament to their commitment in bringing real world experience and pathways to the Irish gaming community.”

Collegiate esports in Ireland is no longer experimental. It’s organised, growing and increasingly supported by institutions.

GamerFest tickets start from €25 for a single day and €43 for a weekend pass, under 10s go free. Secure your tickets now from www.gamerfest.ie.

Further event information and broadcast updates will be announced through Ireland Esports Collegiate Series channels in the lead-up to the National Finals.

Broadcast live on twitch.tv/irelandcollegiate and twitch.tv/nativzgg, full details will be available at collegiate.irelandesportsleagues.com  

All finals will be played live on the GamerFest Main Stage in front of a live audience. Valorant, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike 2 finals will be contested as Best-of-Three series, while the Rocket League National Final will be played as a Best-of-Seven.

GamerFest tickets start from €25 for a single day and €43 for a weekend pass, under 10s go free. Secure your tickets now from www.gamerfest.ie.

The National Finals will be broadcast live on twitch.tv/irelandcollegiate and youtube.com/@IELeagues.