LCS and CBLOL regions are coming back to the 2026 season

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The League of Legends development team (LTA) is stepping down, and the League Championship Series (LCS) and Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends (CBLOL) are coming back for the 2026 season. This change addresses requests from fans who have been asking for this since the previous format was implemented.

So, after trying out a new, combined format for just a year, the League of Legends Championship of the Americas (LTA) is going back to how things used to be for the 2026 season. Basically, the leagues will run like they did before – I’m kinda relieved, honestly! – but there will be some changes when it comes to figuring out who gets to go to international tournaments. Here’s what I expect to see next year. It’s going to be interesting!

LCS and CBLOL will come back in 2026!

Riot Games announced that the League Championship Series (LCS) and the Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends (CBLOL) will be back in 2026. This return will revive these well-known brands and emphasize their unique regional characteristics.

In 2025, Riot combined the two leagues with the goal of increasing competition throughout the region, creating more exciting games, and trying out new ideas that weren’t possible before. Unfortunately, the change didn’t work as they hoped. They explained, “Local pride and the history of each league are very important to the League of Legends esports scene, and our players repeatedly told us they wanted the original leagues restored.”

What changes?

The 2026 League of Legends season is returning to familiar formats, with the biggest update being how teams qualify for international events. In the First Stand stage, each region will earn one qualifying spot. At the Mid-Season Invitational, the LCS will send two teams, and the CBLOL will send one. When it comes to Worlds, the LCS will have three teams competing, while the South American league will be represented by one team.

The second edition of First Stand is coming to Brazil! It’s been eight years since Brazil last hosted a major League of Legends event. Back in 2017, the MSI tournament took place in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where SK Telecom T1 – now known simply as T1 – won against G2 Esports with a score of 3-1. This marks Brazil’s return to the international LoL stage.

Riot Games is changing the competitive League of Legends structure by eliminating matches between leagues from different regions. This will free up time in the schedule to prioritize local competitions. The update will allow for longer seasons, divided into splits, and easier-to-understand formats. Starting in 2026, the LCS and CBLOL will each have three splits with revamped formats, designed to be more straightforward, consistent, and to build up more intense rivalries between teams. This is a significant change to how these leagues operate, aiming to improve the overall competitive experience.

Both leagues will wrap up the year with championship events. These events will give fans a chance to experience League of Legends and celebrate the conclusion of each regional season. It’s a great way to finish the year and acknowledge the players’ hard work.

Latin American teams join the CBLOL

While regional competitions are back, things will be a little different. The LCS will now cover all of North and Central America, and the CBLOL will focus on South America – specifically Brazil and Latin America. LYON will continue as a Partner Team within the LCS, and Leviatán will remain a Partner Team in the CBLOL.

In 2026, both leagues will still include a spot for a team from another region. The LCS will invite a team from either the NACL or LRN, while the CBLOL will welcome a team from the CD or LRS. We’ll share more details about the 2026 season in the coming months.

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2025-09-29 22:11