Riot Games Reveals 2026 LCS Season Format
Riot Games announced the format for the 2026 League Championship Series (LCS), marking the return of the LCS branding after a year of using the LTA name and formats. The season kicks off on January 24th with the LCS Lock-In event.
Split One Structure
The first split will feature a best-of-three Swiss stage. The top five teams from this stage will advance directly to the playoffs. Teams finishing sixth and seventh will compete in a tie-breaker to decide the final playoff spot.
- The top four teams enter the playoffs in the upper bracket.
- The top seed can choose their first opponent from seeds two to four.
- The last two teams begin in the lower bracket.
"Split one will have 50% more games than 2025," said LCS Commissioner Mark Zimmerman.
Similar to previous years, the winning team from split one will qualify for First Stand, the first international tournament of the year.
Spring Split Overview
The 2026 Spring Split will start with a best-of-three round robin group stage. The top six teams from this stage advance to the playoffs.
The Spring playoffs will follow the same format as the Lock-In, with four teams starting in the upper bracket and two in the lower bracket.
Summary
Riot Games has introduced a more intense and strategic 2026 LCS season with a revamped playoff format and increased number of games, aiming to enhance competition and viewer engagement.
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