LPL 2026 Split 3 averaged 23.14% fewer viewers as Chinese teams set for 2026 Worlds
The LPL 2026 Split 3 concluded on September 13 with 177K Peak Viewers, according to Esports Charts. It fell short of the mark set at the final split in 2025, with watch time also suffering due to changes in the tournament format.
Note: Statistics from Chinese livestreaming platforms have not been included, as their publicly available viewership data differs from the concurrent viewership figures we typically use on worldwide livestreaming services like Twitch and YouTube. Learn more here.
LPL 2026 Split 3 viewership statistics
The final split of the 2026 Legends Pro League season peaked at 177,274 viewers during the Grand Final between Bilibili Gaming and Anyone's Legend. The latter eased to a 3:1 win, but the game couldn't match the mark set at LPL Split 3 2025, falling short by 7.77%.
A tweak to the format meant fewer Regular Season matches, so the LPL 2026 Split 3's count of 7.07 million Hours Watched was lower than the LPL Split 3 2025 by 37.6%. The average viewership also suffered a decline of 23.14% year on year.
Note: The stats are preliminary, and any changes to the viewership data will be made once final.
This inconsistent viewership was also reflected across the three splits of the 2026 LPL season. The first split finished among the series' seven most popular competitions, but the second and third ones have seen viewership dips, with none of them crossing 200K PV.
The fact that only one slot is earmarked for the world championship has meant lower stakes for fans of the top sides, as the other slots are decided through LPL championship points and the Regional Finals. Moreover, the number of unique broadcasting channels covering the action has also fallen each split of 2026.
One positive is that this regional League of Legends league continues to get more global coverage from the likes of Marc "Caedrel" Lamont, Gustavo "Baiano" Gomes, and Niklot "Tolkin" Stüber. The LPL's viewership was limited to the Chinese mainland for a long time, with broadcasts only available on regional platforms.
However, the organizers have made attempts to take it to a wider audience base in recent splits. The fact that top co-casters like Caedrel and Baiano have shown interest shows that there is a market for the league on international platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick.
Among the various regional qualifiers for the 2026 LoL Worlds, the LPL is the fourth-most popular one by Peak Viewers. Two of these circuits are still ongoing, and with the CBLoL circuit already ahead, there is a chance that the Chinese league could fall to the second-to-last position if the LCS events' Playoffs attract decent viewership.
LPL 2026 Split 3 results
The premier professional League of Legends esports league in China saw Anyone's Legend beat Bilibili Gaming to clinch the sole slot available for the 2026 World Championship. Bilibili Gaming also guaranteed itself a spot at the coveted tournament by accruing the most LPL championship points throughout the 2026 Season.
Analyze the exact popularity and audience reach of organizations and particular rosters using the Esports Charts Teams Dashboard. Discover which organizations truly drive viewership and engagement.
The LPL 2026 Regional Finals were also held simultaneously with the Playoffs, giving a chance to the four next-best teams with the highest championship points to qualify for Worlds 2026. Top Esports Gaming and Invictus Gaming sealed the final two spots from the Chinese circuit for the prestigious championship.
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Mentioned events
For complete tournament statistics, visit the dedicated event pages on Esports Charts
