2026 League of Legends World Championship qualification
Qualification for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship is taking place from August to October 2026, qualifying nineteen (19) teams for the final tournament. The six Tier 1 regional leagues are expected to have representation at the tournament.
As the winner of the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), Hanwha Life Esports of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) received an automatic slot in the tournament, provided it qualified for its league's playoffs;[1] this was confirmed on 15 August 2026. By virtue of being the second-best-performing region at MSI, China's League of Legends Pro League (LPL) also earned an additional slot to the World Championship.
Outside of the berths from MSI, the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP), League Championship Series, (LCS), League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), and the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) will produce three (3) qualified teams each, while the Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends (CBLOL) will qualify two (2) teams.[2]
Method
Nineteen teams participated in the World Championship, with each team sending a roster of five players. No details on rules regarding substitute players have been released yet.
Qualification via Regional Leagues
Five regional leagues, namely the LCK, LCP, LCS, LEC, and LPL, will distribute three (3) quotas each, while the CBLOL will allocate two (2), making a total of seventeen (17) berths.[3]
As qualification to the World Championship is part of each regional league's season, namely the third split, each league decides its own formats and qualification methods. The LCP and the LPL are the only two leagues to qualify teams for the tournament via the championship points system, with the LPL additionally utilizing a regional qualifier bracket.
Qualification via Mid-Season Invitational
The remaining two slots were attributed to results gained at the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational, with the winning team earning a berth to the World Championship, provided it reached the playoffs of its region's third split. Meanwhile, the second best-performing region at MSI also received an additional berth.
Qualified teams
Qualification began on 2 August and is expected to end on 3 October, with the last qualified team coming from the CBLOL. The dates are inclusive, either from the beginning until the end of each league's playoff phase or from the date when the first team from one region qualifies until the end of the season.
| Qualification | Host | Dates | Qualified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner of the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational |  Daejeon | 28 June–12 July | Hanwha Life Esports[a] |
| Finalists of the 2026 LCP Split 3 Playoffs 2026 LCP Championship Points Leader |  Taipei | 2–30 August | Team Secret Whales CTBC Flying Oyster MVK Esports |
| Winner of the 2026 LPL season 2026 LPL Championship Points Leader Winners of the 2026 LPL Regional Qualifiers |  Suzhou TBD | 13 August–TBD | Bilibili Gaming[b] |
| Top Three of the 2026 LCK playoffs | Seoul | 29 August–13 September | TBD |
| Top Three of the 2026 LEC Summer Split playoffs |  Madrid Berlin Nice | 5–20 September | TBD |
| Finalists of the 2026 CBLOL Split 2 playoffs |  São Paulo TBD | 5 September–10 October | TBD |
| Top Three of the 2026 LCS Summer Split playoffs |  Los Angeles Atlanta | 12 September–4 October | TBD |
Qualification matches
Qualification matches do not necessarily determine the seeding of each team for the tournament
MSI 2026
- Bilibili Gaming vs. Hanwha Life Esports | Grand Final
Since 2024, the MSI Champion is assured of a spot at the League of Legends World Championship provided it qualified for its region's playoffs during the third split. Hanwha Life Esports' victory over Bilibili Gaming reserved its spot in the tournament, but was not formalized yet at the time of victory due to the above-mentioned condition.
| July 12 | Bilibili Gaming | 2 | – | 3 | Hanwha Life Esports | Daejeon, South Korea | ||
| 15:00 (UTC+9) | Daejeon Convention Center II | |||||||
| K/D/A: 16/25/45 Gold: 80.5K Turrets: 4 Drakes: 3 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
Game 1 43:09 HLE leads series 1–0 |
K/D/A: 25/16/66 Gold: 87.7K Turrets: 11 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 2 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 2 |
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| K/D/A: 28/15/58 Gold: 65.3K Turrets: 6 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 1 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 2 |
Game 2 32:10 Series tied 1–1 |
K/D/A: 15/28/33 Gold: 59.2K Turrets: 3 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 1 |
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| K/D/A: 20/7/43 Gold: 66.8K Turrets: 10 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 3 32:18 BLG leads series 2–1 |
K/D/A: 7/20/17 Gold: 54.8K Turrets: 2 Drakes: 1 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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| K/D/A: 13/28/29 Gold: 56.5K Turrets: 2 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 0 |
Game 4 31:08 Series tied 2–2 |
K/D/A: 28/13/64 Gold: 67.8K Turrets: 10 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 3 |
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| K/D/A: 20/21/47 Gold: 69.5K Turrets: 4 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 0 |
Game 5 36:25 HLE wins series 3–2 |
K/D/A: 21/20/53 Gold: 73.0K Turrets: 8 Drakes: 3 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 2 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 3 |
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LCK
- Hanwha Life Esports vs. KT Rolster | Round 4 - Legend Group
After MSI 2026, Hanwha Life Esports was provisionally qualified for the World Championship, but its qualification for the LCK playoffs will confirm its place in the event. With their 2-1 win over KT Rolster, the team secured its slot in the tournament for the sixth time and the third under its current name[c], meeting the qualification conditions for the MSI winner.[4]
| August 15 | Hanwha Life Esports | 2 | – | 1 | KT Rolster | Seoul, South Korea | ||
| 17:00 (UTC+9) | CHZZK LoL Park | |||||||
| K/D/A: 9/28/27 Gold: 68.4K Turrets: 3 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 1 |
Game 1 37:47 KT leads series 1–0 |
K/D/A: 28/9/74 Gold: 80.8K Turrets: 10 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 3 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 1 |
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| K/D/A: 15/4/35 Gold: 52.7K Turrets: 8 Drakes: 3 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 2 24:32 Series tied 1–1 |
K/D/A: 4/15/11 Gold: 40.1K Turrets: 0 Drakes: 1 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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| K/D/A: 17/4/34 Gold: 57.3K Turrets: 11 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 3 26:04 HLE wins series 2–1 |
K/D/A: 4/17/12 Gold: 43.0K Turrets: 1 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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LCP
- Team Secret Whales vs. CTBC Flying Oyster | Swiss Stage 2-0 Round
Team Secret Whales previously won the first two splits of the season, placing them at first place in championship points. The team's victory over CTBC Flying Oyster secured a 3-0 swiss stage record, qualifying for playoffs and securing enough championship points to qualify for the World Championship, as it assured of at least a top three ranking in the said category.[5] Later, Team Secret Whales qualified as a finalist of the 2026 LCP Split 3 Playoffs after the team's victory over CTBC Flying Oyster in Upper Bracket Final.
| August 2 | Team Secret Whales | 3 | – | 0 | CTBC Flying Oyster | Taipei, Taiwan | ||
| 17:00 (UTC+8) | LCP Arena | |||||||
| K/D/A: 23/10/41 Gold: 64.2K Turrets: 10 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 1 28:57 TSW leads series 1–0 |
K/D/A: 10/23/16 Gold: 53.1K Turrets: 1 Drakes: 1 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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| K/D/A: 17/5/32 Gold: 68.0K Turrets: 9 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 0 |
Game 2 30:47 TSW leads series 2–0 |
K/D/A: 5/17/9 Gold: 50.3K Turrets: 0 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 3 |
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| K/D/A: 22/4/48 Gold: 61.6K Turrets: 10 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 1 |
Game 3 27:40 TSW wins series 3–0 |
K/D/A: 4/22/7 Gold: 44.0K Turrets: 0 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 2 |
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- MVK Esports vs. GAM Esports | Lower Bracket Round 1
MVK Esports' victory over GAM Esports secured at least a top three ranking in the championship points, qualifying for the World Championship.[6]
| August 22 | MVK Esports | 3 | – | 2 | GAM Esports | Taipei, Taiwan | ||
| 17:00 (UTC+8) | LCP Arena | |||||||
| K/D/A: 6/18/11 Gold: 59.6K Turrets: 2 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 2 |
Game 1 33:06 GAM leads series 1–0 |
K/D/A: 18/6/54 Gold: 70.5K Turrets: 9 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 2 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 1 |
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| K/D/A: 19/12/46 Gold: 77.3K Turrets: 9 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 1 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 2 40:28 Series tied 1–1 |
K/D/A: 12/19/31 Gold: 74.0K Turrets: 6 Drakes: 1 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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| K/D/A: 4/18/6 Gold: 50.8K Turrets: 1 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 2 |
Game 3 29:40 GAM leads series 2–1 |
K/D/A: 18/4/53 Gold: 65.5K Turrets: 9 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 1 |
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| K/D/A: 15/11/28 Gold: 60.7K Turrets: 8 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 1 |
Game 4 29:16 Series tied 2–2 |
K/D/A: 11/15/20 Gold: 50.6K Turrets: 1 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 2 |
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| K/D/A: 22/25/55 Gold: 101.4K Turrets: 13 Drakes: 3 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 2 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 5 50:17 MVK wins series 3–2 |
K/D/A: 25/22/58 Gold: 100.5K Turrets: 6 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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- CTBC Flying Oyster vs. MVK Esports | Lower Bracket Final
CTBC Flying Oyster qualified for the World Championship as a finalist of the 2026 LCP Split 3 Playoffs after the team's victory over MVK Esports in Lower Bracket Final, making its fourth appearance in its fifth year as an organization.[7]
| August 29 | CTBC Flying Oyster | 3 | – | 1 | MVK Esports | Taipei, Taiwan | ||
| 16:00 (UTC+8) | Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium | |||||||
| K/D/A: 32/15/70 Gold: 72.0K Turrets: 11 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 0 |
Game 1 31:13 CFO leads series 1–0 |
K/D/A: 15/32/42 Gold: 58.3K Turrets: 1 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 3 |
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| K/D/A: 16/3/34 Gold: 62.1K Turrets: 10 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 2 28:29 CFO leads series 2–0 |
K/D/A: 3/16/4 Gold: 46.8K Turrets: 2 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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| K/D/A: 9/26/15 Gold: 58.1K Turrets: 3 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 3 29:54 CFO leads series 2–1 |
K/D/A: 26/9/57 Gold: 66.7K Turrets: 11 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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| K/D/A: 16/7/33 Gold: 56.4K Turrets: 10 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 4 26:58 CFO wins series 3–1 |
K/D/A: 7/16/13 Gold: 47.2K Turrets: 3 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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LPL
- TT Gaming vs. Bilibili Gaming | Group Ascend
Bilibili Gaming finished as winners of the previous two splits of the season, putting them at first in championship points heading into the third split. The team's win over TT Gaming secured at least a top two ranking in the said category, qualifying for its fourth consecutive World Championship.[8] Should it win the 2026 LPL season, the next team with the most championship points will qualify.
| August 13 | TT Gaming | 0 | – | 2 | Bilibili Gaming | Suzhou, China | ||
| 19:00 (UTC+8) | Yangcheng International Esports Center | |||||||
| K/D/A: 5/25/10 Gold: 49.2K Turrets: 2 Drakes: 0 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 1 29:30 BLG leads series 1–0 |
K/D/A: 25/5/57 Gold: 62.9K Turrets: 11 Drakes: 4 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 2 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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| K/D/A: 26/6/60 Gold: 59.1K Turrets: 11 Drakes: 2 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 1 Rift Heralds: 1 Voidgrubs: 3 |
Game 2 25:07 BLG wins series 2–0 |
K/D/A: 6/26/13 Gold: 41.6K Turrets: 0 Drakes: 1 Elder Dragons: 0 Barons: 0 Rift Heralds: 0 Voidgrubs: 0 |
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Notes
- ↑ As of 15 August 2026, Hanwha Life Esports qualified as the MSI 2026 winner and therefore as the fourth seed in the tournament, but its final seed will depend on its final playoff ranking.
- ↑ As of 13 August 2026, Bilibili Gaming qualified via championship points, accumulating enough to finish as the league's second seed in the tournament. Should it win the 2026 LPL season, the next team with the most championship points will qualify.
- ↑ Hanwha Life Esports was previously known as KOO Tigers, who qualified for the 2015 and 2016 editions of the tournament.
References
- ↑ Lee Yoon-seo (13 July 2026). "Korea's MSI reign continues as Hanwha Life Esports claims 2026 crown". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ Luque, Armand (22 March 2026). "CBLOL awarded a second Worlds 2026 slot and a direct MSI Bracket Stage berth". Sheep Esports. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "MSI and Worlds Updates". LoL Esports. 22 March 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ Shin, Yeonjae (15 August 2026). "Hanwha Life Esports Defeats kt Rolster to Reach 17 Wins, Secures Playoff and Worlds Spots". Inven Global. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "CKTG LMHT 2026 xác nhận tấm vé đầu tiên: Niềm hy vọng lớn nhất của LOL Việt Nam". Thể Thao 247 (in Vietnamese). 2 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "GAM mất quyền tự quyết, nguy cơ lỡ hẹn CKTG 2026 thêm một mùa". Thể Thao 247 (in Vietnamese). 24 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ "CTBC Flying Oyster qualify for Worlds 2026 and make the LCP Finals". Sheep Esports. 29 August 2026. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bilibili Gaming become first LPL team to qualify for Worlds 2026". Sheep Esports. 13 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.