LCP 2026: Format updates, 2v2, Championship Points, and more

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The League of Champions Playoffs (LCP) are back in 2026 with new features and a more thrilling experience. Here’s a complete guide to what’s changing.

The League of Legends Championship Pacific (LPC) will be going through some big changes in 2026. Most of these updates will happen during the last part of the year, so here’s a look at what to expect next year.

Split 1 and 2

The basic format of the competition will stay consistent. The biggest change is that all matches in the Playoffs will now be best-of-five, meaning the first team to win three games wins the match. This update aims to create a more exciting and competitive League of Champions Pacific, and help fans better understand what’s at stake and follow the season’s progress.

For the first two parts of the competition, Riot will keep the regular season format of each team playing every other team once in a best-of-three match. However, the playoffs will feature a new format: best-of-five matches that combine different elimination styles.

Instead of one-on-one matches, teams will now compete in two-versus-two to decide who gets to choose their side of the map. These side selection battles promise fast-paced and exciting action! Starting in 2026, matches in the first split will begin at 10 p.m. Pacific Time / 8 a.m. Central European Summer Time. After the split ends, the League Commission will gather fan feedback and decide if any changes are needed.

Swiss Stage Split 3

Now, we’re making some changes. We’ve heard from players and the community that the current format doesn’t always create exciting head-to-head competitions. To fix this, we’ll be using different match lengths. Some rounds will be best-of-three, while others will be best-of-five. For instance, important matches like qualifiers and elimination rounds will be played as best-of-five series.

After the split concludes, three teams will earn a spot at the 2026 League of Legends World Championship in North America. This year, the LCP is adding Championship Points to decide the final qualifying team. According to Riot, this change is to recognize teams that perform well consistently throughout the season.

Two teams currently in the LCP league will compete to stay in the league by facing the best teams from national leagues across the Asia-Pacific region. Keep an eye on the league’s social media for more information as the new season approaches.

Where to watch the LCP

You can watch all the LCP 2026 matches on their official Twitch and YouTube channels.

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2025-11-05 21:11