League of Legends World Championship 2026 to be Held in Texas and New York
Riot Games has announced that the 2026 League of Legends World Championship will take place in Texas and New York City, marking the first North American hosting since 2022. The event returns to a two-city format for the first time in three years, excluding the pandemic-affected seasons.
Event Locations and Schedule
During the Worlds 2025 Grand Final media day, Riot revealed that Allen, Texas will host the Play-In, Swiss stage, and Playoffs. The Grand Final will be held in New York City. Specific venues for each tournament phase are yet to be confirmed.
Historical Context
Previously, the 2023 Championship was held across Busan and Seoul, South Korea. The 2026 event's spread across two cities breaks a recent trend of single-city hosting outside the pandemic years.
Additional Riot Games International Events
Riot also shared details about the 2026 First Stand tournament, the first international competition of the season. Scheduled for March 16–22, 2026, First Stand will take place in São Paulo, Brazil.
- The tournament will increase the number of competing teams from six to eight.
- Matches will be played in a best-of-five format throughout the event.
League of Legends esports is no stranger to the Brazilian city.
Author's Summary
The 2026 League of Legends World Championship returns to North America with a two-city setup, while Riot expands the First Stand tournament in Brazil with more teams and a longer match format.