Evo announced the official lineups for Evo Japan 2026 and Evo Las Vegas 2026 last week, and the selections are a fascinating mix of modern staples and deep-cut legacy titles. Both events will feature full competitive main-stage lineups, and some of the inclusions reach far deeper into fighting game history than many fans expected.
Evo Japan 2026 (May 1–3)
Evo Japan’s lineup is heavily influenced by Arc System Works titles, but the biggest surprise is Hokuto No Ken: Shinpan no Sōsōsei Kengō Retsuden. Originally released on PlayStation 2, this cult classic has not been featured in major tournaments for quite some time. Its return has already sparked discussion online, with clips resurfacing that highlight balance quirks, infinites, and character-specific discoveries. Ten characters will be available for competition, marking a rare modern spotlight for the game.
Melty Blood Type Lumina also makes its return after a three-year absence, joining French-Bread’s Under Night In-Birth II on the Evo Japan stage. The event will take place at Tokyo Big Sight from May 1–3.
Evo Las Vegas 2026 (June 26–28)
Street Fighter 6
Tekken 8
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes
Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising
Rivals of Aether 2
2XKO
Guilty Gear Strive
BlazBlue Central Fiction
Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage
Vampire Savior
Invincible VS
BlazBlue Central Fiction returns to Evo Vegas for the first time since its 2017 appearance. Meanwhile, Invincible VS, set to release in April 2026, will make its Evo debut.
Vampire Savior, part of Capcom’s Darkstalkers lineage, appears in both lineups as a celebrated legacy title. Thanks to the Capcom Fighting Collection, players have modern console access to the game, making preparation far more accessible.
The event will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Excitingly the Same, but Different
2XKO will be featured at both Evo Japan and Evo Vegas. The game has steadily built momentum across Evo events over the past year, delivering surprising competitive results and strong audience interest. With its roots tied directly to an Evo announcement, this marks one of its first official major tournament appearances.
Notably absent from both lineups are major tag fighters such as Dragon Ball FighterZ and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. Despite the upcoming addition of Daima SS4 Goku and a balance update, FighterZ appears to be losing momentum on the Evo circuit. The game will instead be featured at Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026.
As for Marvel Tokon, its absence could suggest a Q3 2026 release window. While it will not appear in either Evo lineup, the game is still expected to show up at other majors in beta form, and potentially at Evo Nice later in the year.
AloJapan.com