Riot Games has announced the esports schedule for the 2027 season of League of Legends. The season's first international event, First Stand, will be held in China as a special edition called “First Stand: All In,” featuring a record-breaking number of participating teams in League of Legends history.
The event was originally scheduled to be held in Southeast Asia, but after this adjustment, it will take place in China, with the specific city and venue yet to be announced. As part of the arrangement, Southeast Asia will host First Stand in 2028. Riot has not yet revealed the exact number of teams for the 2027 event; according to the claim of “the largest ever,” its scale will exceed the 24 teams (including play-ins) at the 2017 World Championship.
Chris Greeley, Head of Global Esports at Riot, stated that First Stand: All In will adopt a tournament format never before used in League of Legends. Specific details on the competition format and qualification process will be announced in January 2027. The winter splits for each region in 2027 will also adjust their formats to accommodate the expanded international event, with participation no longer limited to champions from just a few regions.
“First Stand: All In” is exclusive to 2027, with the event expected to return to its usual format in 2028. Riot has described this adjustment as a celebration of League of Legends' future direction, but whether it is directly related to the “League Next” update remains unconfirmed.