Riot Games Unveils 2026 League of Legends Esports Schedule
On Friday, Riot Games revealed new details about the 2026 international esports calendar for League of Legends, along with a fresh cinematic created with longtime partner Fortiche. The announcement highlights host cities, tournament formats, and expected viewing milestones for the upcoming competitive season.
Viewership Milestone Achieved
Riot Games announced that the 2025 Worlds Play-Ins reached a record peak in viewership. The match between T1 and Invictus Gaming became the most-watched Play-Ins game in the event’s history. Although exact viewership numbers were not disclosed, Riot described this as a sign of continued global interest in the esport.
Key Tournaments in 2026
Stand Tournament in São Paulo
The first major event of 2026 is the Stand Tournament, scheduled for March 16-22 at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. The competition will feature two double-elimination groups leading into single-elimination knockout rounds. All matches will be best-of-five, a format Riot believes maintains competitive fairness throughout the bracket.
Mid-Season Invitational in Korea
The Mid-Season Invitational will return to Korea next year, hosted in Daejeon. Eleven teams will participate, starting with a Play-In Stage that advances one team to a double-elimination Bracket Stage. Riot explained the format aims to provide emerging regions with a clearer pathway while ensuring top-seeded teams face strong competition.
“The format is designed to give emerging regions a clearer path while ensuring top-seeded teams face rigorous competition.”
Riot Games highlights a commitment to competitive integrity and global engagement in the evolving esports scene.
Summary
Riot Games sets a robust 2026 esports schedule with key tournaments in Brazil and Korea, emphasizing competitive fairness and expanding opportunities for emerging regions in League of Legends.