LoL Esports 2026 Calendar: First Stand, MSI & Worlds Dates Revealed
Riot Games Unveils 2026 International Circuit Schedule
Mark your calendars, esports enthusiasts! Riot Games has officially confirmed dates and locations for League of Legends' three premier 2026 international tournaments:
🔥 First Stand (March 16-22)
São Paulo, Brazil
Brazil's first major LoL event since MSI 2017
🔥 Mid-Season Invitational (June 26-July 12)
Daejeon, South Korea
MSI returns to Korean soil for first time since 2022
🔥 Worlds Championship (October 16-November 14)
Allen & New York, USA
Fifth US-hosted Worlds following iconic 2022 DRX vs T1 finals
Regional Implications & Betting Landscape
The condensed schedule creates fascinating narrative arcs for esports bettors:
- Brazilian Advantage: CBLOL teams could see boosted First Stand odds playing on home turf (Feb 28 finals)
- Korean Dominance: LCK teams historically perform strongest at home (T1 won 2017 MSI in Brazil, RNG took 2022 MSI in Korea)
- Americas Cup Warm-Up: New São Paulo tournament (March 8-13) features LCS/CBLOL teams - perfect form indicator before First Stand
The timing creates potential roster volatility with Asian Games in September potentially impacting LCK/LPL preparations for Worlds.
Historical Context Matters
- Brazil Curse: No CBLOL team has won an international event (0-5 in playoff series since 2012)
- Korean MSI Magic: Host nation has won 3 of last 5 MSI tournaments
- US Worlds Legacy: Three of four previous US-hosted Worlds were won by Korean teams (2013, 2016, 2022)
Bookmakers will closely monitor how the Allen, Texas arena (same venue as 2022 Worlds finals) impacts Western teams' performance against Asian powerhouses.