Riot Games Reveals 2026 LCS Season Format
Riot Games announced the format for the 2026 League Championship Series (LCS) season, marking the return of the LCS branding to North American League of Legends after a year of using the LTA branding and formats.
Season Kickoff and Structure
The 2026 season will begin on January 24th with the LCS Lock-In event. The first split will feature a best-of-three Swiss stage, where the top five teams will directly advance to the playoffs. Teams finishing sixth and seventh will face off in a tie-breaker to claim the sixth and final playoff spot.
Playoffs Format
The top four teams will enter the playoffs in the upper bracket. Notably, the top seed gains the strategic advantage of choosing their first opponent from the second to fourth seeds. The remaining two playoff teams will compete in the lower bracket.
Mark Zimmerman, LCS Commissioner, shared that the first split will "have 50% more games than 2025."
International Qualification and Spring Split
- The winning team of the Lock-In qualifies for First Stand, the year's first international tournament.
- The Spring 2026 split starts with a best-of-three round robin group stage, deciding the six playoff teams.
- The Spring playoffs will mirror the Lock-In format, with four teams in the upper bracket and two in the lower bracket.
Author's summary: Riot Games' 2026 LCS season introduces a revamped format with more matches, strategic playoff seeding, and a clear path to international events, enhancing competitive depth in North America.