BALTIMORE, MD — Supernova 2026 brought thousands of competitors, fans, families and creators to the Baltimore Convention Center from August 6–9 for four days of esports, live entertainment, interactive attractions and community programming.

The weekend centered on major esports competition, including premier Super Smash Bros. tournaments featuring players from around the world. Across Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart and other tournament events, more than $50,000 in prizes were awarded throughout the events.

Two of the weekend’s biggest Smash Bros. tournaments delivered major championship wins to out-of-towners. Super Smash Bros. Melee was won by 31-year-old Cody Schwab, a player from Rochester, New York, who traveled to Baltimore to compete. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the largest game of the weekend by entrant count, was won by 20-year-old FaZe Sparg0, real name Edgar Valdez, from Tijuana, Mexico. Valdez was one of many international competitors and fans who came to Baltimore to compete, watch and experience the city as part of the festivities.

Across the venue, attendees moved between competition stages, freeplay setups, retro games, arcade cabinets, vendors, exhibitions and live programming designed to make the festival feel active from open to close.

Supernova also introduced the National Free Throw Championship, a new open basketball competition built around pressure shooting and national-stage drama. The championship added a sports-forward layer to the festival weekend and gave competitors another way to test skill, focus and consistency in front of a live crowd.

The fun began with a special Supernova activation at the Baltimore Orioles’ August 6 game against the Los Angeles Angels, bringing gaming freeplay setups, themed photo opportunities, FREE Pokèmon cards, and festival energy to Oriole Park before the weekend continued at the Convention Center.

Additional weekend highlights included an exclusive Friday concert for Supernova attendees featuring internationally acclaimed electronic artist Virtual Riot, Pokèmon Cards for Cans benefiting the Maryland Food Bank, pickleball, virtual reality, a costume contest, live music, exhibitions, free face painting, balloon animals, and family-friendly entertainment.

Supernova 2026 now serves as a reference point for the festival’s expanding identity in Baltimore: a place where competitive gaming, live events, sports, music, creators and fans can share one weekend under one roof.

About Supernova

Supernova is a four-day gaming and entertainment festival featuring world-class esports competition, live music, interactive attractions, arcade and retro gaming, sports, costumes, vendors and family-friendly programming.