Staying competitive in League of Legends takes more than mastering a champion. Knowing the League season end date matters because the ranked calendar determines when the ladder locks and rewards finalize. With the three-split system, the push to hit a target rank comes around more often than before.

This guide covers the critical deadlines for the LoL season end, the complete 2026 split schedule, and the specific requirements to ensure you claim your Victorious skins and other rewards.

When Does the League Season End in 2026?

There isn’t one single “end of 2026” ranked deadline. Instead, the year is divided into three ranked seasons, each with its own end date and reward drop window.

Riot’s official cadence is simple: Season 1 started in January, Season 2 begins in April, and Season 3 starts in August. The exact cutoff day and hour is typically confirmed in Riot’s end-of-season announcements.

League of Legends 2026 Split Schedule

Understanding the split structure is vital for tracking your progress toward the League Season End. Since 2025, Riot has adopted a three-split format, each with unique thematic elements.

The projected schedule for the 2026 ranked splits is as follows:

This cadence mirrors last year, when themed seasons such as Noxus and Spirit Blossom dictated content flow. The gap between splits is almost non-existent, with the ranked queue often remaining open or resetting instantly to allow players to begin their placement matches for the next split.

League of Legends Season History

Older seasons followed a much longer format, and they usually lasted for the whole duration of the year, excluding preseason.

Ranked Rewards for LoL 2026

Each of the three LoL splits serves as its own season for rewards, offering dedicated prizes for your climbing efforts. The primary allure is the Victorious skin, which is awarded to eligible players at the end of each split.

LoL Ranked Rewards typically include:

• Victorious Skins: A unique champion skin for each of the three splits.
• Ranked Borders: Displayed on your loading screen, reflecting your final rank of the split.
• Icons and Emotes: Themed around the specific split (e.g., Demacia themes for early 2026).
• Hextech Keys and Chests: Earned through progression tracks.

Note: To ensure eligibility, you must meet specific honor requirements. Players who are Honor Level 2 or lower due to recent penalties often forfeit their end-of-season rewards, regardless of their rank.

How to Claim Your Ranked Rewards

Once the League season ends, you do not need to manually claim your rewards. The distribution process is automatic, though it is not instantaneous. Historically, rewards are credited to player accounts within four weeks after the season concludeemds.

Additionally, accounts that have been flagged for cheating will be disqualified. To check if you are eligible, simply verify your Honor level in the profile tab of the client. If you are in good standing, the skins, icons, and borders will appear in your inventory automatically once the rollout patch is deployed.

Best Time to Grind Ranked Before Season End

Late-season climbs are tempting, but the risk increases as the cutoff approaches. Here are a couple of tips you can follow to reach your desired rank before the LoL Ranked season ends:

• Test the meta after major updates
• Push seriously 2–3 weeks before ranked lock
• Treat the final days as unstable
• Stop once the desired rank is secured

FAQs

How many ranked splits are in 2026?

There are three ranked splits in the 2026 cycle. This system, established in previous years, divides the competitive year into three roughly equal trimesters, each with its own specific rewards and rank reset.

What happens if I am Honor Level 1 when the LoL season ends?

If you are Honor Level 0 or 1 when the League Season End occurs, you will generally be ineligible for ranked rewards, including the Victorious skin and loading screen borders, regardless of the rank you achieved.

What happens when a LoL season ends?

For the 2025→2026 handoff, League of Legends communicated that ranked queues were disabled for approximately 12 hours to prepare for the new season, then reopened at noon local server time.

When do I get Victorious skins in LoL?

LoL rewards, including Victorious skins, are typically distributed automatically to eligible accounts within four weeks of the split’s conclusion. You do not need to take any action to claim them; they will appear in your collection once processed.