2026 World Championship

The 2026 League of Legends World Championship is the premier international League of Legends championship organized by Riot Games. Worlds 2026 will be the fifteenth edition of the tournament and the final global event of the LoL Esports season. The championship will take place across the United States from October 15 to November 14, 2026, featuring 19 teams from the world's top competitive regions competing for the World Championship title.

VENUE & ATTENDANCE

The tournament will be held across multiple venues in the United States:

• Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, California – October 15 to 18;
• Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas – October 23 to November 8;
• Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York – November 14;

The venues will host the Play-In Stage, Swiss Stage, Knockout Stage, and Grand Final. The Play-In Stage will take place in Los Angeles, while the Swiss Stage, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals will be held in Allen, Texas. The Grand Final will be hosted at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

PRIZE POOL

The total prize pool is $5,000,000 USD and is distributed as follows:

FORMAT & STRUCTURE

The tournament features three stages: a Play-In Stage followed by a Swiss Stage and a Knockout Stage.

Play-In Stage (October 15 – October 18) - Four teams compete in a double-elimination bracket. Only one team advances to the Swiss Stage. All matches are played as best-of-five series.

Swiss Stage (October 23 – October 31) - Sixteen teams compete in a five-round Swiss format. Teams with the same win-loss record face each other until they reach three wins or three losses. Matches that determine advancement or elimination are played as best-of-three series, while the remaining matches are best-of-one. The eight teams that reach three wins advance to the Knockout Stage.

Knockout Stage (November 3 – November 14) - Eight teams compete in a single-elimination bracket. All matches are played as best-of-five series, with the winner crowned the 2026 League of Legends World Champion. The Quarterfinals and Semifinals will take place in Allen, Texas, while the Grand Final will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.