International League of Legends Esports Venues for 2026 Announced
Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends (LoL), confirmed the locations for all major international LoL Esports events in 2026 during the 2025 Worlds Press Conference on November 7.
First Stand in São Paulo, Brazil
The First Stand tournament will be held in São Paulo from March 16 to March 22, 2026. Five teams from each region will compete for the opening international title of the 2026 season.
“Brazil has one of our most passionate player bases,” said Chris Greeley, director of LoL Esports. “We can’t wait to see the city come alive once again for LoL.”
The last international League of Legends event hosted in Brazil was in 2017. Every match in First Stand will be a best-of-five series.
Mid-Season Invitational in Daejeon, South Korea
South Korea’s fifth-largest city, Daejeon, will host the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). Eleven teams from various regions will compete, with only one team advancing from the Play-ins into the Bracket Stage.
The bracket will maintain a double-elimination format “to ensure every match will have enough attention,” according to Chris Greeley.
Worlds 2026 Split Between Texas and New York
The 2026 League of Legends World Championship will take place in two major locations in the United States:
- Texas: Hosting the Play-ins, Swiss Stage, and Knockout Stage
- New York City: Hosting the Grand Finals
This marks a significant international event with multiple key stages held across two prominent U.S. cities.
Summary
The 2026 LoL international tournament schedule features a mix of returning and new host cities: São Paulo for First Stand, Daejeon for MSI, and Texas with New York City sharing Worlds stages, reflecting Riot Games’ commitment to global esports engagement.