LCP Announces Major Format Changes Ahead of 2027

The League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) is expanding its ecosystem in 2027, opening the door for more teams to compete at the highest level in the region. The new structure will place a greater emphasis on regional competition while creating a clearer path from domestic leagues to the LCP and global events.

A More Sustainable Path for the LCP

One of the region's major challenges was creating a sustainable ecosystem. Relocating teams to Taipei created high costs for organizations while also keeping players away from home. This eventually affected how teams and players could connect with their local fans.

Beyond the financial problem, having players spend extended periods away from their homes and support networks has also proven challenging over the course of a long season.

Despite the airtime being almost the same compared to 2025, the LCP saw a significant decline in viewership across all major viewership metrics. Watch time fell by 32% while average viewership dropped by 37.6%, according to Esports Charts.

What is Changing in 2027?

In the 2027 season, the ecosystem will expand, allowing teams to compete for a place at the highest level.

Under the current system, domestic teams have only one opportunity each year to earn a spot in the LCP through the Promotion Series.

Starting in 2027, every team from the Pacific Championship Series (PCS), Vietnam Championship Series (VCS), and League of Legends Japan League (LJL) will have the opportunity to compete for an LCP spot each split. This will create a direct pathway from domestic competition to the LCP and, ultimately, international events.

In the same spirit, the Wild Card regions will continue to have a path into the LCP. More details on the slot distribution and format will come in the coming months.

The LCP representatives have also confirmed the LCP Arena will remain open and continue operating in 2027 despite the format changes.

APAC will create more opportunities through an open ecosystem (Photo by Riot Games)

Building For the Future

For the region to succeed, teams need to maintain sustainable operations over the long term. By allowing teams to move home, Riot Games hopes to significantly reduce their operating costs, while opening doors for better engagement with their fans and partners.

In 2027, the Global Revenue Pool (GRP), one of the most significant sources of recurring revenue for teams, will continue to operate. This will also apply to teams that earn promotion or successfully defend their LCP spot through the Promotion Series.

For teams entering the Promotion Series, securing an LCP spot will also provide them with a direct share of the GRP. 

But that is not all. With every domestic team now able to qualify directly for the LCP and potentially advance to global events, teams that qualify for these international competitions will also be eligible to receive Global Event GRP. This means a team's earning potential will be determined by how far it progresses, rather than simply where it started.

Team Secret Whales won all domestic tournaments in 2026 (Photo by LCP/Riot Games)

It is important to note that the GRP was removed from major regions in the circuit, including the LCK, LEC, and LCS, in January 2026.

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Featured Image Credit: LCP // Riot Games

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