Riot Games has announced the schedule for the League of Legends 2026 World Championship. The event will feature 19 teams from six major regions, with the Play-In Stage kicking off in Los Angeles on October 16 and the Finals scheduled for November 15 in New York.
The Play-In Stage will take place from October 16 to 19, featuring MVK, C9, KC, and the second seed from the Brazilian region. The Brazilian seed order will be confirmed after the regional finals on October 10, with the Play-In draw also occurring on that day. The Play-In Stage follows a double-elimination format with best-of-five matches, producing one team that advances to the Swiss Stage.
The Swiss Stage will be held in Allen, Texas, split into two sessions: October 24–27 and October 29–November 1, spanning five rounds. Teams advance to the Knockout Stage upon securing three wins, while three losses result in elimination. First-round matches will avoid intra-region matchups, but these will be allowed from the second round onward. Most matches will be best-of-one, while advancement or elimination deciders will be best-of-three.
Eight teams will ultimately advance to the Knockout Stage. The Quarterfinals are scheduled for November 4–7, and the Semifinals for November 8–9. All matches from the Quarterfinals through the Finals will be best-of-five.
The tournament's theme song, "Know My Name," performed by True Damage, is set to be released on October 9. The seeding order for the Brazilian region and the first-round Play-In matchups will be determined after the regional finals and draw on October 10.