Table of Contents
Riot Games has officially disclosed complete details for the two major 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 new host cities to updated formats and where to purchase MSI 2026 tickets and Worlds 2026 tickets, here is everything you need to know to keep up with 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 hosted in Daejeon, South Korea: marking the first occasion a League of Legends esports event is held in the city. The event will be at the Daejeon Convention Center II, providing fans with a new location to witness cross-regional competition at the halfway point of the competitive season.
When is the Mid-Season Invitational 2026 taking place?
MSI 2026 is scheduled for June 28 to July 12, 2026, in South Korea. The complete 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 different about the MSI 2026 format?
For MSI 2026, Riot Games has made changes to the Play-In Stage, now featuring four teams in a double-elimination bracket, sending one team to the Bracket Stage to join the other 7 top-seeds. These top seeds will be the first seed from each region, along with the second seed from the top two seed region from the First Stand.
The team breakdown 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 purchase tickets for the Mid-Season Invitational 2026?
MSI 2026 tickets will be available through Interpark in waves, giving fans multiple chances to secure their spots. Global Ticket sales will start on April 23 — or April 21 for Mastercard holders — and South Korea Ticket sales commence on May 21.
Details for the League of Legends 2026 World Championship 2026
The League of Legends World Championship 2026 is heading back to North America, spanning three cities in the United States across 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 taking place?
Worlds 2026 will unfold throughout October and November, traversing the US to various cities. 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 is implementing some adjustments to the event format. Firstly, CBLOL will receive an additional region slot, 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 faceoff. Now, the stage has been broadened to enhance excitement for the initial days of the event. Also, due to logistical challenges, Riot Games opted 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 globe will vie 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 for Worlds 2026 if they also qualify for their home region’s playoffs.
Where can I purchase tickets for Worlds 2026?
Worlds 2026 tickets will go on sale in mid-to-late July 2026. Stay tuned to official LoL Esports channels for updates.