Tomorrow, LITEXPO in Vilnius gets loud. Comic Con Baltics 2026 kicks off May 22-24, and for anyone who follows competitive Trackmania, this one is worth paying attention to.
Not just because it’s bigger than previous years. Because it’s different in ways that actually matter.
Five years of building toward this
TM has been part of CCB since 2022. Back then it was mostly a local showcase. Fun, but limited. Over the following years the player pool grew, the production got more serious, and the Baltic competitive scene started developing its own identity within the broader TM world.
This year feels like the payoff.
The prize pool is at 5,000 euros, a new high for the event. That might not sound massive in broader esports terms, but in the context of regional TM competition it matters. Money changes who shows up prepared. It changes whether organizations notice. It changes the weight of the result.
Ubisoft in the building
First time Ubisoft has come in as a direct partner for CCB. That’s not a small thing.
It means better production, a more professional broadcast, and an official stamp that makes a CCB result mean something on paper. Gaming coordinator Aleksas “KEM” Legačinskas put it well when he said it lets the event actually reflect the talent level of the worldwide TM community. When the publisher shows up, the event stops being regional and starts being legitimate.
Maps built for this event\
No recycled competitive maps this year. The 2026 pack is five custom tracks designed specifically for CCB, each themed around Lithuanian culture and the Comic Con identity itself.
The maps have been available since the Discovery Event on May 3, so the top players have had time to put in runs. But five custom tracks built around Lithuanian culture is still a different challenge than the standard competitive meta… or is it really? We will have to find out tuning in for LITEXPO coverage.
How the weekend works
Qualification already happened. A Discovery Event ran on May 3, with a Cup of the Day on one of the CCB tracks giving out a mystery box to the top finisher and eight direct Group Stage slots to the best performers overall.
From there it goes live in Vilnius. The finals run in the Baltics Gaming Expo hall across the weekend, in front of a proper crowd. Day one has open on-site qualifying still available, so if you happen to be in Vilnius and you’re quick, there’s still a way in.
The bigger picture
CCB isn’t on the EWC pathway to Paris. That doesn’t make it less important.
Regional LAN events are where TM players actually develop. The experience of racing in front of a crowd, handling the pressure of a live format, performing on maps you haven’t ground to death yet. That’s what prepares someone for the bigger stages. The players heading to EWC this August didn’t get there by only playing in top-tier events. They got there by winning in rooms like this one first.
Publisher backing and a record prize pool make CCB 2026 a better development ground than it’s ever been. That’s good for the whole scene.
Watch it live
Streams at twitch.tv/ccbaltics. Discord at discord.gg/ccbaltics.
We’re covering it across the weekend. Results, highlights, and post-event breakdown coming here and on @ApexTM_.
Comic Con Baltics 2026. May 22-24, LITEXPO Vilnius. Prize pool: 5,000 euros. Supported by Ubisoft Nadeo.