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Riot Games Announces Return of LCS and CBLOL Brands for 2026: Here’s What To Expect
As reported yesterday, the LCS and CBLOL brands will be returning in 2026, separating the LTA back into two independent leagues. However, while the brands themselves will be returning, fans continue to wonder, in what shape will they return?
LCS and CBLOL Return as Independent Leagues
The tail-end of the 2025 League of Legends competitive calendar sees some major changes in store for the next competitive year. The restoration of the LCS and CBLOL brands as independent leagues after less than a year of underperformance from the LTA project comes with the hopes of “renewing focus on regional competition” and “honoring the passion of fans”. Strong outcry from fans and popular personalities in the scene to the failure of the LTA project to deliver across all metrics has led to an unsurprising rollback.
“The LTA delivered valuable learnings, but it also became clear that fans feel the deepest pride and connection to their original leagues and missed that element in LTA. Regional pride and history are core to the League of Legends esports experience, and our communities consistently told us they wanted their leagues back. Not just the LTA wearing the old brands, but a true restoration of the leagues.”
Riot Acquiesces
In many ways, the LCS and CBLOL brands will truly return in their previous form as we pick back up where we left off in 2024 in terms of structure and fanbase expectations.
This includes a removal of the cross-regional playoffs, allowing the independent leagues to run on their own seasons and timelines and crown their own champions. Without the need to accommodate for a North and South league to compete concurrently, Riot has assured that both leagues will now regain “more days in its calendar for regional competition.”
This also means a return in 2026 to independent qualification to international events:
- First Stand
- LCS: 1 slot
- CBLOL: 1 slot
- MSI
- LCS: 2 slots
- CBLOL: 1 slot
- Worlds
- LCS: 3 slots
- CBLOL: 1 slot
What Remains From 2025 and What Will Change
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the return of those two brands will not mean a complete reversion to the 2024 model. The beloved LLA brand, for one, will not return as a standalone league. Instead, the LCS and CBLOL leagues will function as the new North and South leagues from the LTA model. Let me explain.
The LCS league in 2026 will support all of North and Central America. Meanwhile, CBLOL will bring together South America (this includes Brazil and LATAM South). Furthermore, the partner teams will be kept for both leagues, meaning LYON will remain a Partner Team in the LCS and Leviatán in the CBLOL. Both leagues will continue to play host to a Guest Team next year.
Eligible teams for Guest Slots:
- LCS: NACL (North America Challengers League), LRN (Liga Regional Norte)
- CBLOL: CD (Circuito Desafiante), LRS (Liga Regional Sur)
More information is expected to arrive as 2025 draws to a close. Stay tuned for further updates.
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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games
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