Riot Games Reveals 2026 League of Legends Esports Schedule and New Twilight’s End Cinematic
Riot Games shared new details about the 2026 international esports calendar for League of Legends, along with a cinematic titled Twilight’s End, developed in collaboration with long-term partner Fortiche. The update covers host cities, tournament structures, and viewing milestones set for the upcoming season.
Record-Breaking Viewership in 2025
The company noted that the 2025 Worlds Play-Ins achieved a record level of global viewership. The highlight was the T1 versus Invictus Gaming match, which became the most-watched Play-Ins game in the event’s history. Although Riot did not share specific numbers, it described the achievement as proof of growing international interest in League of Legends esports.
2026 Esports Event Highlights
The Stand Tournament
The first major event of the 2026 season will be 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. Every match will follow a best-of-five format, designed, according to Riot, to preserve competitive integrity across the bracket.
Mid-Season Invitational Returns to Korea
The 2026 Mid-Season Invitational will be held in Daejeon, South Korea. This tournament will feature eleven regional teams, beginning with a Play-In Stage that allows one qualifying team to advance to a double-elimination Bracket Stage. Riot explained that this system aims to provide emerging regions with a clearer path to success while maintaining strong competition among top-seeded teams.
“The new competitive structure reflects our commitment to both innovation and fairness in global League of Legends events,” Riot Games stated.
Author’s Summary
Riot Games unveiled its 2026 League of Legends esports plan, confirming global events in Brazil and Korea and celebrating record-breaking audience engagement from 2025's season.