LCS 2026: League Championship Series
LCS 2026 brings a stable three-part season: Lock-In, Spring, and Summer, using Fearless Draft and best-of-three formats throughout.
Lock-In features a Swiss Stage and top-six Playoffs, while Spring and Summer decide MSI and Worlds qualifiers.
Fans get more matches, aligned LEC formats, and easier-to-follow storylines across both regions.
The League of Legends LCS 2026 (League Championship Series) returns to its roots, boasting more matches, higher stakes, and a schedule that’s easy to follow. It all starts with Lock-In, followed by the Spring and Summer Splits, which culminate in top-six Playoffs to close out the NA season.
In this guide, you’ll get a quick tour of Lock-In, the Swiss format, and how the Spring and Summer split slot into MSI and Worlds paths. You’ll also see what changed from LTA 2025, why it matters for LCS 2026, and where to watch each stage.
Editor’s Note: This page was last updated on November 6, 2025, and will be revised as new details about the LCS 2026 season become available.
What Is LCS 2026?
The LCS is a three-part season, comprising Lock-In (January 24, 2026), Spring Split (tentatively scheduled for March 24–June 15, 2026), and Summer Split (tentatively July–October 2026).
Lock-In sets the early tone, Spring Split determines the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) representatives, and Summer closes out the year by deciding which teams punch their ticket to the World Championship. It marks a return to stability after a stretch of experimental formats.
LCS 2026 Lock-In Format Explained
LCS Lock-In kicks off on January 24, 2026, with a twist: it includes Fearless Draft. The first three weeks feature a best-of-three Swiss Stage to determine Playoff seeds. The top six teams will advance to the Playoffs, competing in a best-of-five, double-elimination bracket. The winner will qualify for First Stand.
Under the Swiss format, teams that go 3–0 can select an Upper Bracket opponent from the 2–1 pool, while any team that finishes 0–3 is eliminated. Among the 1–2 teams, the squad with the best game record advances as the fifth seed; the remaining two face off in a tiebreaker for the final Playoff spots.
LCS 2026 Spring & Summer Formats Explained
Both the Spring Split and Summer Split will feature a best-of-three round-robin Regular Season, followed by a top-six Playoff Stage.
Since the Playoff mirrors Lock-In, the format will remain consistent throughout the year—meaning more best-of series and fewer confusing format changes in the LCS 2026 calendar.
For fans, the best-of-three cadence rewards prep and resilience. Drafts evolve over a weekend, coaching takes on a greater importance, and regular-season records finally reflect the real strength of a series.
For the first time in years, the LCS and LEC (League of Legends EMEA Championship) will follow almost identical formats, making it much easier for fans to follow the two main Western regions.
Why The New LCS 2026 Format Matters
The new structure gives LCS 2026 fewer format changes and a schedule that builds on familiar habits.
For teams, this includes weekly best-of-three series, which encourages them to adapt mid-series rather than succumbing to a single bad game. It also raises the overall competitive floor and reveals true ceilings for most teams.
For fans, beyond having more games to watch, the best-of-three format should also boost cross-regional play, especially against EMEA teams. By keeping Western formats aligned, the new LCS will make storylines much easier to follow and co-streams far more enjoyable.
Qualification Path To First Stand, MSI & Worlds
The path from LCS 2026 to international tournaments is clear. The Lock-In winner will go to First Stand. Spring Split champion and runner-up will qualify for MSI 2026, and the top three teams in the Summer Split will enter Worlds 2026.
LCS confirmed that the Summer Split will feature an expanded Lower Bracket gauntlet to ensure that the three best teams make it to Worlds. Overall, fans seem satisfied with the decision to keep formats similar to the main international events, as it will make the adaptation period much smoother once MSI and Worlds arrive.
LCS 2026 Teams
The LCS 2026 team list remains a partner system, with official rosters to be revealed closer to the kickoff. That said, Riot has officially confirmed six partners as the league revives its LCS brand after the 2025 LTA experiment. A guest slot remains tied to promotion from Tier 2.
- Cloud9
- FlyQuest
- Team Liquid
- Dignitas
- Disguised
- LYON
- Shopify Rebellion
- Sentinels
List Of All LCS & LTA Champions
This table lists all LCS champions from the LCS era (2019-2025), along with their final scores.
| Year | Split/Event | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | LTA Season Finals | FlyQuest | Vivo Keyd Stars | 3–1 |
| 2025 | LTA Split 2 | FlyQuest | Cloud9 KIA | 3–2 |
| 2025 | LTA Split 1 | Team Liquid | 100 Thieves | 3–0 |
| 2024 | LCS Summer | FlyQuest | Team Liquid | 3–1 |
| 2024 | LCS Spring | Team Liquid | FlyQuest | 3–1 |
| 2023 | LCS Summer | NRG | Cloud9 | 3–1 |
| 2023 | LCS Spring | Cloud9 | Golden Guardians | 3–1 |
| 2022 | LCS Summer | Cloud9 | 100 Thieves | 3–0 |
| 2022 | LCS Spring | Evil Geniuses | 100 Thieves | 3–0 |
| 2021 | LCS Summer | 100 Thieves | Team Liquid | 3–0 |
| 2021 | LCS Spring | Cloud9 | Team Liquid | 3–2 |
| 2020 | LCS Summer | TSM | FlyQuest | 3–2 |
| 2020 | LCS Spring | Cloud9 | FlyQuest | 3–0 |
| 2019 | LCS Summer | Team Liquid | Cloud9 | 3–2 |
| 2019 | LCS Spring | Team Liquid | TSM | 3–2 |
LCS 2026 Schedule & How To Watch
Riot Games’ public calendar sets the main timeframes that the LCS 2026 season will follow. You can view the full schedule below.
- Lock-In: January 24, 2026.
- First Stand: March 10–16, 2026.
- Spring (Regional Split 2): March 24–June 15, 2026 (tentative)
- MSI: June 27–July 12, 2026.
- Summer (Regional Split 3): July–October 2026 (tentative)
- Worlds: October 14–November 9, 2026.
If you’re hosting LCS watch parties, you can follow the LoL Esports hub for detailed match pages and VOD information. Streams will be simulcast on the official LoL Esports and LCS YouTube and Twitch channels, with co-streams also available across multiple platforms.
FAQ
When does LCS 2026 start?
The LCS 2026 season begins with Lock-In on January 24, 2026, followed by the Spring Split and the Summer Split (exact dates to be announced).
What’s the LCS 2026 format?
LCS 2026 will feature a new but familiar format. Swiss Stage for Lock-In, Spring and Summer as best-of-three round-robin leagues with top-6 Playoffs. All splits will feature Fearless Draft.
How do teams reach MSI from LCS 2026?
The winner and runner-up of the LCS 2026 Spring Split will qualify for MSI, representing North America on the global stage.
How many Worlds slots does LCS 2026 have?
Three LCS teams qualify via Summer Split Playoffs, using the 2024-style gauntlet to send the best performers to Worlds 2026.
Is Fearless Draft used in LCS 2026?
LCS has officially confirmed that all three splits in 2026 will feature Fearless Draft. Expect deeper champion pools, richer prep, and mid-series pivots across Lock-In, Spring, and Summer.
References
- LoL Esports | SCHEDULE (Riot Games)
- LCS (YouTube)
- Riot Games (Twitch)
