Riot Games Reveals 2026 League of Legends Esports Schedule and New Twilight’s End Cinematic
Riot Games has released new details about its 2026 international esports calendar along with a fresh cinematic, created in collaboration with long-time animation partner Fortiche. The update includes information about host cities, tournament formats, and key broadcast milestones for the upcoming season.
Record Viewership and Global Interest
According to Riot Games, the 2025 World Championship Play-Ins achieved a new viewership record. The match between T1 and Invictus Gaming became the most-watched Play-Ins game in the history of the event.
Riot described the achievement as a testament to the enduring global enthusiasm surrounding League of Legends esports.
Stand Tournament Opens the 2026 Season
The first major event of the 2026 season, the Stand Tournament, will take place from March 16 to 22 at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. The competition will follow a structure of two double-elimination groups leading into single-elimination knockout rounds. Every match will follow a best-of-five format to preserve competitive balance throughout the event.
Mid-Season Invitational Returns to Korea
The Mid-Season Invitational is set to return to Korea, with Daejeon serving as the host city. Eleven teams will participate, starting with a Play-In Stage that promotes one team into the double-elimination Bracket Stage. Riot noted that this format aims to provide a clearer route for emerging regions while maintaining a high standard of competition for top-tier teams.
Summary
The 2026 esports calendar underscores Riot Games’ commitment to global expansion, improved tournament structures, and cinematic storytelling in the League of Legends universe.