LCK Cup 2026: Schedule, Format, Teams & How To Watch
The League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) is still the benchmark for the pro circuit, home to dynasties that have lifted the Summoner’s Cup ten times in fifteen years. Now entering its fifteenth season—and sixth under partnership—the LCK Cup 2026 kicks off yet another competitive cycle.
This guide provides everything you need to follow the pre-season tournament, including the full schedule and format, participating teams, and instructions on how to watch it all live.
LCK Cup 2026 Dates & Location
The LCK Cup 2026 start and end dates have not been confirmed yet. However, the event is expected to start in early January 2026 and run through early February 2026. It will be held at the iconic LoL Park in Seoul, South Korea.
LCK Cup 2026 Schedule
This table provides the full schedule of the LCK Cup 2026, including each stage, match dates, and start times.
| Stage | Match Date | Match Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | TBD | TBD |
| Play-In | TBD | TBD |
| Playoffs | TBD | TBD |
| Grand Final | TBD | TBD |
Note: Official game timings are not yet available. We will update this section as soon as announcements are made.
LCK Cup 2026 Format
The LCK Cup 2026 will be divided into three stages: Group Stage, Play-In, and Playoffs. All matches will feature Fearless Draft, meaning a champion can only appear once in a series, no matter which team picks it.
Group Stage
In the Group Stage, ten of the world’s best LoL teams will be split into two groups of five: Group Baron and Group Elder, each playing a single round-robin against teams from the opposite group.
In Weeks 1 and 2, matches will be played as best-of-three series, and teams will gain 1 point for every series win. In Week 3 (i.e., “Super Week”), contenders will finally meet opponents with the same seed from their own group. Those matches will be played as a best-of-five series, awarding 2 points per series win.
When this stage ends, each group’s points will be summed to determine the Winner Group and the Loser Group and, ultimately, each team’s progression in the tournament.
- The top two teams from the Winner Group and the top team from the Loser Group will qualify directly for the Playoffs.
- The 3rd–5th placed teams from the Winner Group and the 2nd–4th placed teams from the Loser Group will advance to the Play-In qualification pool.
- The lowest-ranked team in the Loser Group will be eliminated.
Play-In
The Play-In will follow Riot’s updated 2024 Preliminary Format, which features a short three-match bracket for four teams.
While six teams qualify for Play-In overall, only four will participate in the bracket itself, consistent with the new format outlined by Riot. All matches are best-of-three, except the final qualifying series, which will be best-of-five. The top seed in the Play-In will select sides for the opening match.
Playoffs
A total of six teams will participate in the Playoffs: the top two from the Winner Group, the top team from the Loser Group, and three top qualifiers from the Play-In.
All matches will be played as a best-of-five series under a double-elimination format. Instead of one slot, the LCK Cup 2026 will award two finalists a direct invite to the 2026 First Stand.
Additionally, teams can utilize Riot’s new “Coach Comm” feature, which allows coaching staff to communicate directly with players during live gameplay up to three times per match. Each activation lasts 45 seconds and occurs without pausing the game, following the rules of Riot’s pilot program.
Prize Pool Distribution
Riot Games has not allocated any prize money for this tournament.
Teams Competing At LCK Cup 2026
LCK Cup 2026 will host ten franchised teams from Korea, each competing for their place in the inaugural international event of the season: First Stand. The competitors include:
- BNK FEARX
- DN Freecs
- Dplus KIA
- DRX
- Gen.G Esports
- Hanwha Life Esports
- KT Rolster
- NS RedForce
- OK BRION
- T1
How To Watch The LCK Cup 2026 Live
You can watch all the action from the LCK Cup 2026 live on the Riot Games and LCK Global Twitch and YouTube channels. As always, co-streams will be available in Korean, Vietnamese, French, and Mandarin across multiple platforms.
Broadcast Talent
The English broadcast talent lineup has been confirmed and will guide the viewers through every moment of the LCK Cup 2026.
- Max “Atlus” Anderson (Play-by-Play Caster)
- Brendan “Valdes” Valdes (Play-by-Play Caster)
- Wolf “Wolf” Schröder (Color Caster)
- Dan “Aux” Harrison (Analyst)
- Daniel “dGon” Gonzales (Analysis Host)
- Kim “Wadid” Bae-in (Analysis Host)
FAQs
When and where will the LCK Cup 2026 event take place?
The LCK Cup 2026 kicks off in early January 2026 and ends in early February at LoL Park in Seoul, South Korea.
What’s the LCK Cup 2026 format?
The LCK Cup 2026 retains the same three-stage layout as in 2025, comprising a Group Stage with two regular weeks and one Super Week, followed by the Play-In and Playoffs stages. Every match will adopt the Fearless Draft format.
Which team won the LCK Cup 2025?
Hanwha Life Esports secured Korea’s slot for First Stand 2025 after edging out Gen.G 3–2 in a thrilling series. HLE’s Choi “Zeus” Woo-je earned Finals MVP honors for his outstanding performances throughout the event.
How can I watch the LCK Cup 2026?
You can watch the LCK Cup 2026 in multiple languages on the official LCK Twitch and YouTube channels.
Where Can I Purchase LCK Cup 2026 Tickets?
Tickets to attend the LCK Cup 2026 are not yet available. Usually, Riot Games releases tickets 48 hours before each match on the Global Interpark website.
References
- 2026 LCK 진행 방식 안내 (LoL Esports)
- LCK (Twitch)
- LCK Global (YouTube)
- NOL World (NOL World)
