Riot Games Announces 2026 League of Legends Esports Schedule
On Friday, Riot Games revealed key details about the 2026 international League of Legends esports calendar along with a new cinematic created in partnership with Fortiche.
Event Highlights and Viewing Milestones
The announcement presented host cities, tournament formats, and upcoming viewing milestones for the 2026 competitive season. Riot Games highlighted that the Worlds 2025 Play-Ins achieved record viewership, with the T1 vs. Invictus Gaming match becoming the most-watched Play-Ins game in the event’s history.
The publisher described this achievement as a sign of sustained global interest in the esport, although exact numbers were not disclosed.
Major 2026 Events
- Stand Tournament: Scheduled for March 16-22 at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. The event features two double-elimination groups leading into single-elimination knockout rounds. All matches will be best-of-five, ensuring competitive integrity throughout the bracket.
- Mid-Season Invitational: Returning to Korea next year, hosted in Daejeon. Eleven teams will compete, starting with a Play-In Stage that advances one team into a double-elimination Bracket Stage. This format aims to provide emerging regions with a clearer path while maintaining rigorous competition for top teams.
Competition Format Philosophy
Riot emphasized that the match structures and formats are designed to balance fair competition and exciting progression, allowing both established and emerging regions to showcase their skills effectively.
Riot Games continues to innovate its esports structure, reinforcing global interest and fostering competitive integrity for the growing League of Legends community.
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