The 2026 League of Legends EMEA Championship season begins with a new competition called LEC Versus, setting a fresh tone for the year. This tournament replaces the traditional start of the season with a format designed to highlight new strategies, developing players, and team adjustments following the offseason.
Twelve teams will compete—ten established LEC organizations joined by two invited European Regional League representatives. Together, they introduce new dynamics to the stage at the Riot Games Arena, where early performances will help define rivalries and momentum for the rest of the competitive calendar.
LEC Versus teams
The LEC Versus 2026 roster combines ten partnered LEC organizations with two invited competitors from the EMEA Regional Leagues (ERLs) — Los Ratones and Karmine Corp Blue. This lineup brings together established contenders and ambitious challengers aiming to test their performance across tiers.
| Category | Teams |
|---|---|
| LEC Representatives | Shifters (formerly Team BDS), Fnatic, G2 Esports, Team Heretics, Movistar KOI, GIANTX, SK Gaming, Karmine Corp, Team Vitality, Natus Vincere |
| ERL Invites | Los Ratones, Karmine Corp Blue |
The inclusion of both ERL squads offers rare cross-league competition, creating a diverse field for the opening event of the 2026 season.
Tournament format
The competition begins on January 17 with a single round-robin stage, where all participating teams compete in best-of-one (Bo1) matches. This structure ensures that every EMEA Regional League (ERL) representative faces each top-tier LEC team, giving rising rosters a chance to measure themselves against the region’s strongest lineups. The condensed schedule limits the format to Bo1 to maintain pacing ahead of the next international event, The First Stand.
| Stage | Format | Match Type | Advancement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | Single Round Robin | Bo1 | Top 8 advance |
| Playoffs Rounds 1–2 | Double Elimination | Bo3 | Winners continue |
| Playoffs Finals | Double Elimination | Bo5 | Champion qualifies for The First Stand |
The Playoffs stage features a double-elimination bracket designed to reward consistency. Teams dropping to the lower bracket retain a path to the title but must win multiple series to reach the top. The Grand Final scheduled for March 1 determines the sole team earning Europe’s qualification spot for The First Stand.
HyperX serves as the event’s official peripherals partner, equipping players with professional-level gaming hardware throughout the competition.
LEC Versus Tickets
Fans can purchase LEC Versus tickets beginning December 17 at 6 p.m. CET. The event takes place at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany. Tickets cost €15 (approximately $18) and are available through the official EMEA ticketing portal. Sales for the initial match days continue until February 13.
| Ticket Type | Sale Date | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Entry | Dec. 17, 2025 | €15 | Riot Games Arena, Berlin |
| Playoffs – Upper Bracket R1 | Jan. 5, 2026 | €15 | Riot Games Arena, Berlin |
| Remaining Playoff Rounds | Jan. 12, 2026 | €15 | Riot Games Arena, Berlin |
Those unable to attend can watch the live matches on the LEC YouTube or Twitch channels.
