September + October 2026 LANs
Splatoon has a new biggest LAN in the world—and it’s not in Japan
The autumn season brings with it Competitive Splatoon’s biggest LANs in the world: Riptide and SplashGo!. The two LAN majors act as foils to one another: Riptide in the West, open to anyone, played on ranked modes; SplashGo! in Japan, with a limited amount of invite-only slots, played exclusively in Turf War. As of August 2026, one of these two powerhouses became the first Splatoon LAN to exceed 500 players.
But those aren’t the only two LANs happening in the next two months! Big crowds not your thing? There are plenty of locals to attend, each offering their own appeal and surprises in store for those who adventure out and attend.
September
Riptide 2026 - September 11–13th (Ohio, United States)
Riptide has been on a roll the past few years, breaking their own attendance records year after year—2026 smashed past 2025’s record, not only becoming the biggest Splatoon LAN in the United States this year, but also in the world. With 532 registrants and 126 teams (as reported by start.gg), for the first time ever, a team cap (128 teams) had to be implemented for Splatoon at Riptide, and they nearly reached it.
Boasting both a main 4v4 tournament and a collegiate tournament, Riptide will be seeing the likes of Moonlight, Content Cat, Hypernova, Healbook, and more, all in-person. Last year even saw PxG’s Grey participating as part of team Voiē Lactee, who took home the gold.
Inside the Splatoon hall, there will be an artist’s alley, including The Hagglefish Zone, a dedicated area run by Pop-LANtis in addition to their usual booth, specifically for trading items, leaving freebies, and acting as a pickup location for event-specific orders. There will also be a second artist’s alley located in the other venue hall, where the non-Splatoon games—Super Smash Bros. and Rivals of Aether—are being held.
Switch 1s are required this year, in addition to a copy of the game, a controller, and a 3.5mm headset (highly recommended). Numerous tables with 4v4 setups are provided for the 120+ teams to compete on concurrently, and a large projector screen will be displaying the set taking place on the main stage.
Riptide 2026 runs from Friday, September 11th through Sunday, September 13th, 2026 at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. Day 0, for badge pickup, is on Thursday, September 10th, and is open from 7–11 PM. Riptide’s Splatoon events will be streamed by IPL and SplatoonTourney.
AADL Hyperlocal (September 2026) - September 19th (Michigan, United States)
Michigan’s Ann Arbor District Library Hyperlocal returns with a twist! New to the September event, the tournament is planned to be streamed on the AADL YouTube channel. Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join in.
The tourney will run from 1 PM to 4 PM ET. The hosting venue will provide the game setups and gear, so all attendees need to bring is themselves. There are no spectator or competitor fees, either. Show up, play Splatoon, and have a good time!
The September 2026 AADL Hyperlocal will be at the Ann Arbor District Downtown Library in the 4th floor Program Room from 1–4 PM on Saturday, September 19th. Registration is not required for this event. Further details can be found on the AADL’s website: https://aadl.org/node/666385.
SplashGo! #14 - September 20–21st (Tokyo, Japan)
SplashGo!, formerly the largest Splatoon LAN in the world, will follow up one weekend after Riptide. Will Japan’s competitive Turf War-only event take back the crown as the biggest Splatoon LAN in the world?
The 4v4 Turf War tournament also has a 128-team limit, with team slots being categorized three ways:
- Priority teams, who have reached top spots in previous events (up to 16 slots).
- Exchange teams, who are high school/university teams (up to 32 slots).
- General teams, which are open for anyone to sign up for (up to 80 slots).
Day 1 of SplashGo! #14 will be qualifiers to make it to Day 2. The format will be Group Round Robin into a Single-Elimination Finals bracket. If time allows and players are willing, after the Finals match, there will be an interview with the victors!
SplashGo! #14 will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho, 2F in 1-7-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, from Sunday, September 20th to Monday, September 21st, 2026. Registration and further inquiries can be found on the event’s start.gg page or official website, Ikanakama.ink.
LAN of 10,000 Lakes #4 - September 26th (Minnesota, United States)
A steadily-growing mainstay of the Twin Cities area, LAN of 10,000 Lakes has found itself offering expanded hours in September and more for attendees to partake in! The LAN can be found on the third floor of a wheelchair-accessible building, inside the RTM Gaming Lounge.
Participants of the main tournament event need to bring their own Switch and game, controller, and headset in order to play. Switch 2 owners can participate, but will need to bring their own Switch 2 dock and LAN cables. Those who bring a Switch 1 dock and AC adapter and are willing to share with others will get $2 off their registration fee.
For the first time, LAN of 10,000 Lakes is offering a Tableturf side event! Starting bright and early at 10:30 AM CT, players won’t need to bring anything more than the setup that they already need for the 4v4 tournament. Registration will be done on-site. Finals will be streamed!
LAN of 10,000 Lakes #4 kicks off on Saturday, September 26th, 2026, at the RunTheMix (RTM) Gaming Lounge in Roseville, Minnesota. RTM’s doors open at 10 AM CT, the Tableturf tournament starts at 10:30 AM, and the Swiss bracket starts at 1 PM. Start.gg has venue directions, tournament rules, Discord server invitation, and registration.
H-Town Splashdown #8 - September 26th (Texas, United States)
H-Town Splashdown is Houston, Texas’s local LAN, located at Game Guys in Almeda Mall. One of the biggest LAN locals in the scene, it boasts six 4v4 setups for the main tournament, a Salmon Run side event, IRL Tableturf, and an artist’s alley!
The venue will already have monitors and setups available for players, so players will only need to bring their own Nintendo Switch console, copy of Splatoon 3, a headset, and controller. Multiple console options are accepted: Switch 1, Switch 2, Switch Lite, and even handheld players! Registration ends one week before the event, on September 20th, so plan accordingly if you want to attend.
Texas Splatoon’s map of Splatoon LANs in the state, posted on Bluesky. There’s more on the horizon than just H-Town Splashdown!
H-Town Splashdown #8 hits Houston, Texas on Saturday, September 26, 2026; if you plan to play in the 4v4 tournament, your team will need to be registered on the start.gg page—you’ll find a link to the Texas Splatoon Discord, who will help team-less players buddy up! Texas Splatoon on Twitch will be streaming the event live.
Squid Social 35 - September 27th (Toronto, Canada)
Squid Social, Splatoon Toronto’s monthly LAN local, is having a joint Splatoon 3 and Splatoon Raiders event in September. Recently moved to a new venue at the University of Toronto and building up their scene to include a yearly major event, Torontoroka, there’s plenty to be excited for in the Canadian Splatoon LAN scene!
This event is just as much for casual friendlies as it is for tournaments—both a draft bracket and open lobbies are held during the LAN’s runtime. Participants should bring their Nintendo Switch (any kind), Splatoon 3, power cable, and a controller. Docks are only required if players are not playing in handheld mode. A LAN adapter is needed if not using a docked Switch 2, and a 3.5mm wired headset is recommended.
Squid Social 35’s new home is at Woodsworth College in Room 120 in Toronto, Ontario, and will be open from 1–9 PM. Keep up to date with all upcoming LANs in the Splatoon Toronto Discord and their website: https://splatoon.ca/.
October
New InkLAN #7 - October 3rd (Massachusetts, United States)
New InkLAN, hosted by the New England Squids, is Massachusetts’s LAN local. They have moved to Game Underground, a video game/TCG/arcade located in Waltham, to provide Splatoon action to the New England area!
Competitors are encouraged to bring their own setups, which include: Switch, dock, and LAN cables. Spectators can also bring setups to play at when stations aren’t in use. If you’re a student, read the New InkLAN #7 start.gg page to see how you can get a discount on your registration!
New InkLAN #7 takes place on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026; for more info, reach out to the New England Squids Discord to get in touch with tournament staff. The tournament will also be available to watch on SplatoonTourney’s Twitch channel.
Squid-Waukee Fall 2026 - October 3rd (Wisconsin, United States)
Squid-Waukee, Wisconsin’s free-to-play LAN local, returns in the month of October and is ready to welcome players of all ages and skill levels. Join the SquidWest (Midwest Splatoon Players) Discord to register using their dedicated Discord event link.
All attendees need to bring for the event is their console, copy of Splatoon, and a controller. As mentioned above, sign up through the dedicated Discord event link, here—it would help the TOs considerably if anyone prospective about attending marked themselves as “Interested” in the event!
Squid-Waukee Fall 2026 is hosted at the West Allis Public Library in West Allis, Wisconsin, and will take place on Saturday, October 3rd. Keep up to date with all Squid-Waukee and other Wisconsin-related Splatoon events by following the Squid-Waukee Bluesky page.
CALterna 08 - October 3rd (California, United States)
Southern California’s local, CALterna, is gearing up for spooky season! At B.Y.O. Games in Los Angeles, California, prepare for tricks and treats with a limited-time “evil counterpick” option, where the losing team gets to pick any map, any mode… even TURF WAR.
For the 4v4 tournament, players need to bring their Switch 1 or Switch 2—docks are required for Switch 1 users to bring. A controller and copy of Splatoon 3 are also needed, and a 3.5mm headset is recommended. The 4v4 event is capped at 12 teams, and the Amiibo Bracket side event is capped at 4 teams. Register on start.gg.
CALterna 08’s vibrant promo poster, which includes start date and times, venue address and fees, and sites.
CALterna 08 returns to SoCal on Saturday, October 3rd, and the doors to B.Y.O. Games open at 12:30 PM PT. The Amiibo Bracket is planned to begin at 2 PM, and the main 4v4 tournament’s Swiss stage will start at 3 PM; the venue will be open until 9:30/10 PM. Those wanting to watch at home can do so on Twitch.
Diamond Duel #3 - October 24th (Arkansas, United States)
Arkansas Splatoon brings back Diamond Duel for its third edition, hosted at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in room ETAS 101 (first floor). Entry for spectators is free; competitors have until October 19th at 11:59 PM to register!
Switch docks, monitors, and mixers will be provided, so competitors should make sure they bring their own Switch, copy of Splatoon 3, controller, and headset with mic. Check in with the Arkansas Splatoon Discord if you have any questions about equipment or team building.
Diamond Duel #3 will run on Saturday, October 24th, 2026 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Parking and campus maps are available at the Diamond Duel #3 start.gg page, with further tournament info. Now’s your chance to help the Arkansas Splatoon community further grow its roots!
SoCallie #10: Seasalt Festival - October 24th (California, United States)
SoCallie, Irvine, California’s local LAN, reaches a major milestone with ten LANs under their belt! Their double-digit event, the Seasalt Festival, will be at Cooper's Esports Gaming Center, and the main tournament will be streamed on SplatoonTourney.
Participation in the Splatoon 3 tournament requires a player to bring their: Switch 1 or 2, Splatoon 3, controller, charging cables, Switch dock, and headset. If you need any of these items provided or accommodations, reach out to staff in the SoCallie//SoCal Splatoon LAN Discord so they can assist you.
The splash page on SoCallie’s start.gg. It features a fresh logo, photos from past LANs, and a cinematic skydiving shot that expands the further you scroll down. A must-see!
SoCallie #10: Seasalt Festival invites you to make waves in Irvine, California, on Saturday, October 24th. The bracket is anticipated to begin at 11 AM PT; prepare for a full day of festivity! A full list of details and links are available at the SoCallie #10: Seasalt Festival start.gg page.
Chi-Shoals #45 - October 24th (Illinois, United States)
After taking a few months off, Illinois’ longstanding Splatoon LAN, Chi-Shoals, is back for their 45th event! You can still expect to find this LAN at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, Illinois, and attend for free, regardless of your age or skill level.
The main tournament will be a 4v4 Groups to Single-Elimination format. To participate, please bring your Nintendo Switch 1 (no Switch 2s), copy of Splatoon 3, 3.5mm wired headset, and a controller. And most importantly, yourself! For those who can’t attend, the tournament will be streamed on the SquidWest Twitch Channel.
Right now, SquidWest is holding a special Bluesky promotion: if their Chi-Shoals #45 promo post gets 50 reposts, posters will be 50% off at the event, marked down to $10 each! You can find that post here.
Chi-Shoals #45 will start at 11 AM CT on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, and run until 4 PM. You can find more information on SquidWest’s Challonge. Join the SquidWest (Midwest Splatoon Players) Discord server for further info and commentator opportunities!
Rumble at the Rhino - October 24th (Michigan, United States)
With a city that already has “LAN” in the name, it was only a matter of time before a Splatoon local (not to be confused with the recurring hyperlocal) returned to Michigan—in the city of Ypsilanti, get ready to rumble at Golden Rhino Games! To make the grand opening special, the event will be free to enter, play, and spectate.
Outside of requiring a controller and copy of Splatoon 3, players can choose to bring either their Switch 1 or Switch 2, but Switch 2 owners will need to bring their dock and adapter. A headset compatible with Astro Mixamps is also highly recommended for team comms.
Rumble at the Rhino will be the first-ever video game event at Golden Rhino Games in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on Saturday, October 24th, 2026. GRG features an on-site cafe for food and beverages; what’s not to get excited for? Check out the LAN’s start.gg page for more details and registration.
Splatoon Raiders Meet - October 24th (South Carolina, United States)
New Game Plus+, the same team who sponsored North Carolina’s Don’t Flounder at the Function LAN, is bringing together a Splatoon Raiders-centric LAN. Free to attend, and free arcade access and free pizza will be given to all who show up; that’s a lot of free perks to enjoy!
Tabletop and handheld mode players are welcome at this event! Players need to bring their own Switch 2, charging cable, copy of Splatoon Raiders, and controller. Take advantage of the community nearby to unlock extra outfits in Raiders or get some help with those notoriously difficult raids.
New Game Plus+’s Splatoon Raiders Meet in Florence, South Carolina joins the October 24th LAN lineup and will run from 3 PM to 7 PM. There is no player limit, so bring all of your friends! More details can be found on the New Game Plus+ Facebook page.
River Rapids Local LAN 1: Flood Season - October 25th (Connecticut, United States)
Another inaugural LAN joins the scene in late October! River Rapids is Connecticut’s brand new LAN, located at Legacy Gaming Lounge. The venue only accepts card payments, so when making travel plans, be sure to keep that in mind.
Players attending will need to bring their Switch 1 or Switch 2 (Switch 2 users will need to bring their dock and adapter) and a 3.5mm headset, in addition to other necessary equipment. If Splatoon isn’t enough action, a Beyblade side event is also planned to take place!
River Rapids Local LAN 1: Flood Season rounds out the October LANs (save your Halloween splatting spirits for the Splatfest!) and takes place on Sunday, October 25th, 2026. Their start.gg page includes more details and directions, and you can also join the River Rapids Local Lan Discord server to find some teammates!
Do you find yourself wishing for LAN resources such as a packing list, a guide on how to talk to people at LANs, or where to find LANs near you? Splatoon Stronghold has you covered! Check out the LANs page on our website to find fantastic resources created by community members to make LANs more visible and welcoming to all!
Original Posting Date: September 10, 2026 at Splatoon Stronghold.
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