MATTEL LAUNCHED $50,000 UNO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Mattel turned UNO into a $50,000 contest with the UNO Championship Series, a live tournament with a Los Angeles finale.
Mattel announced the UNO Championship Series on August 19, 2026. The winner was set to collect the grand prize and the title of 2026 UNO Champion at finals scheduled for November 11, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Mattel said the series would turn UNO into a competitive live event featuring the game’s “unpredictable, chaotic fun.” The company also said the tournament would bring together players from around the world for a championship showdown.
The finale was set to be streamed live on Twitch, Mattel said.
How players could get in
The official rules described two stages: preliminary rounds and an in-person final tournament. No purchase was required to enter.
The contest was open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., who were at least 18. The official site listed Mattel as the sponsor and noted the contest was void where prohibited.
Mobile players had one route. Mattel said the qualifying tournaments were free weekly events in the UNO! mobile app, and the top four scorers in the mobile final tournament were eligible to advance.
USA Today reported that app entrants needed a minimum number of in-game trophies before they could play.
The other route was in person. Mattel scheduled qualifying events in Kissimmee, Florida; Chicago; and El Segundo, California, and the top scorer at each was eligible to advance to the finals.
USA Today reported that each in-person event was capped at 150 eligible contestants, chosen first-come, first-served under the official rules.
Who made the finals field
The rules called for seven finalists from the qualifying rounds. Those seven were to join 41 invitees, including influencers, creators, brand fans and international players, for a 48-player field.
USA Today also reported that the seven qualifiers would get roundtrip airfare to Los Angeles, a hotel stay and spending money.
The rules page carried its own tagline: “MANY WILL ENTER; FEW WILL WIN.”
The belt and the home set
Mattel also rolled out merch to go with the tournament. Its product announcement listed an UNO Championship Series Championship Belt at a suggested retail price of $19.99.
The official site also promoted a premium tournament set with gold-finish cards and an automatic card shuffler built for UNO decks.
What happened next
Investing.com was among the outlets that covered the launch, and the entry window has since closed. The official site now says: “The UNO Championship Series 2026 registration has ended.”
The finals are still scheduled for November 11, 2026, in Los Angeles, with the $50,000 grand prize on the line.
