Riot Games announce details for MSI and Worlds 2026: including dates, venues, and changes
Riot Games has officially revealed full details for the two biggest competitive League of Legends events of the year's LoL esports schedule: the Mid-Season Invitational 2026 and the League of Legends World Championship 2026. From brand-new host cities to updated formats and where to get MSI 2026 tickets and Worlds 2026 tickets, here is everything you need to know to follow the action for these LoL esports tournaments.
Details for the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2026
MSI 2026 Host City & Venue: Where is it?
MSI 2026 will be held in Daejeon, South Korea: the first time a League of Legends esports event has been hosted in the city. The tournament will take place at the Daejeon Convention Center II, giving fans a fresh venue to experience cross-regional competition at the halfway point of the competitive season.
When is the Mid-Season Invitational 2026 happening?
MSI 2026 will arrive in the middle of the LoL esports schedule, running from June 28 to July 12, 2026, in South Korea. The full schedule is as follows:
- Play-In Stage: June 28–July 1
- Bracket Stage: July 3–12
- Upper Final: July 9
- Lower Final: July 11
- Grand Finals: July 12
What’s changing with the MSI 2026 format?
For the MSI 2026, Riot Games have updated the Play-In Stage of the event, now featuring four teams in a double-elimination bracket, advancing one singular team to the Bracket Stage to join the other 7 highest-seeds. These top seeds will be the first seed of each region, plus the second seed of the highest-ranking two seed region from the First Stand.
The team distribution for the MSI 2026 will be as follows:
- 2 teams from LCK
- 2 teams from LCS
- 2 teams from LEC
- 2 teams from LCP
- 2 teams from LPL
- 1 team from CBLOL
Where can I buy tickets for the Mid-Season Invitational 2026?
MSI 2026 tickets will be sold through Interpark in waves, offering fans multiple opportunities to secure their seats. Global Ticket sales will be available on April 23 — or April 21 for Mastercard holders — and South Korea Ticket sales begin on May 21.
Details for the League of Legends 2026 World Championship 2026
The League of Legends World Championship 2026 is returning to North America, spread across three cities in the United States throughout its various stages. The venues are:
- Play-In Stage: Riot Games Arena, Los Angeles, California.
- Swiss Stage & Knockout Stage: Credit Union of Texas Event Center, Allen, Texas.
- Grand Finals: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York.
When is the League of Legends 2026 World Championship happening?
Worlds 2026 will take place throughout October and November, darting across the US to various cities throughout. The full stage schedule across all three host cities is as follows:
- Play-In Stage: October 15–18
- Swiss Stage: October 23–31
- Knockout Stage: November 3–8
- Grand Finals: November 14
What’s changing with Worlds 2026 format?
For Worlds 2026, Riot Games are introducing a few changes for the event format. Firstly, CBLOL will receive an extra region slow, now sending two teams to Worlds 2026, and secondly, the Play-In is now expanded to four teams competing in a double-elimination Bo5 bracket.
Previously, the Play-In for First Stand was a simple one-on-one showdown. Now, the stage has been expanded to help generate more excitement for the opening days of the event. Also, due to some logistical challenges, Riot Games decided to host the Play-In stage at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, rather than the CUTX in Allen, Texas.
A total of 19 teams from around the world will compete for the ultimate LoL esports glory at Worlds 2026:
- 3 teams from the LCK
- 3 teams from the LCS
- 3 teams from the LEC
- 3 teams from the LCP
- 3 teams from the LPL
- 2 teams from the CBLOL
- The MSI 2026 Champion*
- 1 additional team from the second-place region of MSI 2026
*The MSI Champion will only qualify to Worlds 2026 if they also qualify for their home region’s playoffs.
Where can I buy tickets for Worlds 2026?
Worlds 2026 tickets will go on sale in mid-to-late July 2026. Keep an eye on official LoL Esports channels for updates.
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