Riot Games Reveals 2026 League of Legends Esports Schedule and New Twilight’s End Cinematic
On Friday, Riot Games unveiled new details about the 2026 international esports calendar for League of Legends, along with a fresh cinematic produced in partnership with Fortiche.
2026 Esports Schedule and Formats
The announcement highlighted the host cities, tournament structures, and projected viewership milestones for the upcoming competitive season.
Worlds 2025 Play-Ins Viewership Milestone
Riot Games reported that the Worlds 2025 Play-Ins reached a record audience, with the match between T1 and Invictus Gaming becoming the most-watched in the event’s Play-Ins history. Although exact numbers were not disclosed, Riot described this milestone as evidence of enduring global interest in the esport.
Stand Tournament
- Dates: March 16-22, 2026
- Location: Riot Games Arena, São Paulo, Brazil
- Format: Two double-elimination groups leading into single-elimination knockout rounds
- All matches are best-of-five to preserve competitive integrity throughout the bracket
Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2026
The MSI will return to Korea with Daejeon as the host city. Eleven teams will compete, beginning with a Play-In Stage that advances one team to a double-elimination Bracket Stage.
Riot Games stated the format "is designed to give emerging regions a clearer path while ensuring top-seeded teams face rigorous competition."
Author's summary: Riot Games announced its 2026 League of Legends esports schedule featuring major tournaments in Brazil and Korea, revealing competitive formats aimed at balancing integrity and opportunity for emerging regions.