Worlds 2026 format and dates
How Worlds 2026 works: Play-In Oct 15–18, a five-round Swiss stage Oct 23–31, and a Bo5 knockout Nov 3–14 in Allen, TX and Brooklyn, NY.
Play-In
Swiss Stage
- Dates
- Oct 23 – Oct 31
- Format
- 5 rounds. 3 wins qualifies, 3 losses eliminates. Teams with the same record are paired, with no rematches. Bo TBD
- Venue
- TBD
- Draws
- Oct 18 · Oct 23 · Oct 24 · Oct 26 · Oct 30
- Official Pick'Ems lock
- Before the first match on Oct 23
Knockout Stage
- Dates
- Nov 3 – Nov 14
- Format
- Bo5 single elimination. Quarterfinal draw on Oct 31: the two 3-0 teams each face a random 3-2 team; the remaining four teams are paired at random.
- Venue
- Allen, TX / Brooklyn, NY
- Draws
- Oct 31
- Official Pick'Ems lock
- Before the first match on Nov 3
FAQ
When does Worlds 2026 start?
The Play-In starts on October 15, 2026 and runs to October 18. Exact match times have not been published yet; the official schedule is on lolesports.com.
When and where is the Worlds 2026 final?
The final is on November 14, 2026 in Brooklyn, NY at 2 PM EST (8 PM CET, 3 AM November 15 in Beijing, 4 AM November 15 KST).
How does the Worlds 2026 Swiss stage work?
Five rounds from October 23 to October 31. Three wins qualifies a team for the knockout stage and three losses eliminates it. Teams with the same record are paired and cannot face the same opponent twice.
Where is the Worlds 2026 knockout stage played?
The Bo5 knockout stage, November 3–14, is played in Allen, TX and Brooklyn, NY. Quarterfinals and semifinals start at 4 PM Central (11 PM CET, 6 AM next day in Beijing, 7 AM next day KST).