Riot Games unveils the format of the 2026 LCS season

Riot Games has unveiled the formats that will be used throughout the 2026 League Championship Series (LCS) season. The upcoming season marks the return of the LCS brand to the North American League of Legends after abandoning the LTA brand and formats after one year.

In a video presented by LCS commissioner Mark Zimmerman, details about the new formats and adjustments to existing formulas were revealed. The season kicks off on January 24 with the LCS Lock-In.

Format of the LCS Lock-In 2026

The first phase of 2026 will include a best-of-three Swiss stage, with the top five teams securing a playoff berth. The sixth and seventh place teams will play a playoff to determine the sixth and final playoff team.

The top four teams will begin the playoffs at the top of the bracket, and the top seed will have its first choice of opponent from the second through fourth seeds. The remaining two teams will compete at the bottom of the bracket. In addition, Zimmerman says the first round “will have 50% more matches than in 2025.” Like last year, the winning team will qualify for the First Stand, the first international tournament of the year.

2026 LCS spring and summer formats.

The Spring 2026 LCS Spring 2026 begins with a best-of-three group stage, which will determine the six teams that qualify for the playoffs. The Spring playoffs will use the same format as the Lock-In, with four teams starting in the top bracket and two in the bottom bracket. The winner and runner-up of the Spring LCS will secure qualification for the Mid-Season Invitational.

The format of the Summer LCS differs from the Spring LCS. While six teams qualify for the playoffs, the top two teams earn a spot in the second round of the top bracket, with the remaining teams starting in the first round.

The Summer features a double-elimination bracket, giving teams two chances to secure one of the three spots for Worlds 2026. In addition to unveiling more details about next year’s LCS formats, Zimmerman revealed that more information about what the league has in store will be announced in early 2026.