How Does a 26 Team Single Elimination Tournament Work?
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How Does a 26 Team Single Elimination Tournament Work?
A 26 team single elimination (knockout) tournament consists of 5 rounds and includes a total of 25 games.
Bracket Size
The bracket size is determined by rounding the number of teams up to the next power of two. With 26 teams, the bracket needs to be expanded to 32 spots.
Byes
By taking the 26 participating teams and subtracting them from the 32-team bracket, you end up with 6 byes for this tournament.
Rounds & Games
A 26 team single elimination tournament includes 5 rounds and a total of 25 official games:
- Round of 32: 10 actual matchups and 6 byes
- Round of 16: 8 games featuring the 16 advancing teams
- Quarter-Finals (Round of 8): 4 games with the remaining 8 teams
- Semi-Finals: 2 games, 4 teams
- Final: 1 game to decide the winner
Seeding
Choose one of the following options:
- Seeded (most common): Top teams meet later in the tournament.
- Blind draw (random): No seeding, and teams are randomly assigned for round 1.
- Manual seeding: Teams are paired in the order they are entered.
Comparing to Other Tournament Formats
As with any knockout-format event, a 26 team single elimination tournament is fast to organize and involves fewer games than many other tournament formats with the same number of competitors.
| Format | Total games | Games per team | Rounds | Fairness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round Robin | 325 | 25 | 25 | Everyone plays everyone | Best for leagues |
| Single Elimination | 25 | 1–5 | 5 | Harsh cutoff | Best for quick events |
| Double Elimination | 51 | 2–10 | ~10 | More forgiving | Popular in esports |
| Double Elimination with Consolation | ~37 | min 2 | ~9 (5+4) | Fairer, every team plays twice | Youth sports |
| Swiss System | 65 | 5 | 5 | Balanced, flexible | Chess, card games |
Printable 26 Team Single Elimination Bracket
Looking for a paper version of your tournament schedule or bracket? We’ve got you covered with easy printing options for both!
