PUBG Global Series Circuit 3 Heads to Shanghai with $500K at Stake

After two circuits in Seoul, the PUBG Global Series relocates to Shanghai, China for Circuit 3. Three tournaments — PGS 7, PGS 8, and PGS 9 — will run back-to-back from August 5 to 23, 2026.

The move matters beyond geography. Circuit 3 opens the second half of the 2026 PGS season, and from here every series in Circuits 3 and 4 awards twice as many PGS Points as the first half — accelerating the race toward PGC 2026.

What's in play

• 24 teams competing: 12 Global Partner Teams and 12 Regional Qualifiers
• Total prize pool: $500,000 — split across PGS 7 ($100K), PGS 8 ($100K), and PGS 9 ($300K)
• Most matches start at 10:00 UTC daily; the PGS 7 Group Stage on August 5 opens earlier at 05:00 UTC
• PGS 7 runs a full Group Stage → Winners/Survival → Final format across five days; PGS 8 skips the Group Stage; PGS 9 compresses into a Survival Stage and three-day Grand Finals
• The progressive format carries consequences: bottom-eight finishers in each Survival Stage are eliminated, while top performers carry Advantage Points forward

With points doubling and prize money weighted heavily toward PGS 9's $300,000 Grand Finals, the back half of Shanghai will likely determine which organisations arrive at PGC 2026 with real leverage.