Riot Games Announces 2026 League of Legends Esports Calendar and New Cinematic
On Friday, Riot Games revealed key details about its 2026 international League of Legends esports schedule along with a new cinematic produced together with longtime partner Fortiche. The announcement includes host cities, tournament formats, and expected viewing milestones for the upcoming season.
Viewing Milestones
Riot Games highlighted that the Play-Ins stage of Worlds 2025 hit a new record when the matchup between T1 and Invictus Gaming became the most-watched Play-Ins game in the event's history. Exact numbers were not released, but Riot described this as evidence of continued global enthusiasm for the esport.
2026 Tournament Schedule and Formats
- Stand Tournament: The first major event of 2026 will take place from March 16 to 22 at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. It will feature double-elimination groups leading into a single-elimination knockout stage. All matches are best-of-five to ensure high competitive standards.
- Mid-Season Invitational: Returning to Korea in 2026, the tournament will be hosted in Daejeon. Eleven teams will participate, starting with a Play-In Stage that advances one team to a double-elimination Bracket Stage. The format aims to offer emerging regions a clearer path while maintaining strong competition for top-seeded teams.
"The format is designed to give emerging regions a clearer path while ensuring top-seeded teams face rigorous competition."
The new cinematic accompanying this announcement continues Riot's collaboration with Fortiche, showcasing the evolving story within the League of Legends universe.
Author's Summary
Riot Games has outlined its ambitious 2026 League of Legends esports calendar, emphasizing competitive integrity and global engagement through revamped tournament formats and a new cinematic release.