Riot Games Reveals 2026 LCS Season Format
Riot Games announced the format for the upcoming 2026 League Championship Series (LCS) season, marking the return of the LCS branding to North American League of Legends after a year under the LTA branding and formats.
Season Kickoff and Structure
The 2026 season will start on January 24th with the LCS Lock-In tournament. The first split features a best-of-three Swiss stage, where the top five teams will automatically qualify for the playoffs. Teams placed sixth and seventh must face off in a tie-breaker to determine the sixth and final playoff spot.
Playoff Format and Seeding
The playoffs will have a unique seeding structure. The top four teams will enter the upper bracket, with the first seed getting the privilege to select their initial opponent from seeds two to four. The last two qualified teams will start in the lower bracket.
"Split one will have 50% more games than 2025," said LCS Commissioner Mark Zimmerman.
Spring Split and International Qualification
LCS Spring 2026 will open with a best-of-three round robin group stage, which will select six teams to advance to the playoffs. The format of the Spring playoffs will mirror the Lock-In, with four teams beginning in the upper bracket and two in the lower bracket.
The winning team from the Lock-In will qualify for First Strike, the year's first international tournament.
The 2026 season introduces more games and strategic depth, offering teams greater opportunity and audience engagement.
Summary: The 2026 LCS season returns under its traditional branding, featuring expanded formats with Swiss stages, flexible playoff seeding, and increased matches boosting competitive intensity and international opportunities.