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Worlds 2026 Playoffs: Bracket, Schedule, Start Times and Format
The Worlds 2026 playoffs begin on November 3, with eight teams competing for a place in the Grand Final. The knockout stage opens with four best-of-five quarterfinals, each starting at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET / 11 PM CET. The League of Legends World Championship concludes on November 14 in New York.
LYON, Bilibili Gaming and Karmine Corp secured the final three playoff spots when the Swiss Stage concluded on October 31. The quarterfinal draw features an all-LPL clash between Top Esports and Invictus Gaming, while Gen.G face LYON and T1 take on Karmine Corp.
Which Teams Qualified for the Worlds 2026 Playoffs?
Eight teams qualified for the Worlds 2026 knockout stage. The LCK (South Korea) and LPL (China) have three representatives each, while the LEC (Europe) and LCS (North America) have one apiece.
Here are all eight qualified teams and their final Swiss Stage records:
- Dplus KIA (LCK): 3-0
- Gen.G (LCK): 3-0
- T1 (LCK): 3-1
- Invictus Gaming (LPL): 3-1
- Top Esports (LPL): 3-1
- Bilibili Gaming (LPL): 3-2
- Karmine Corp (LEC): 3-2
- LYON (LCS): 3-2
Worlds 2026 Quarterfinals Schedule: Matchups, Dates and Start Times
Worlds 2026 Quarterfinals Schedule: Matchups, Dates and Start Times
The Worlds 2026 quarterfinals take place from November 3 to 6, with one best-of-five series each day. All four matches begin at 2 PM PT / 4 PM CST (Texas local time) / 11 PM CET.
| Date | Quarterfinal Matchup | PT | CST | CET |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3 | Top Esports vs. Invictus Gaming | 2 PM | 4 PM | 11 PM |
| Nov 4 | Gen.G vs. LYON | 2 PM | 4 PM | 11 PM |
| Nov 5 | Dplus KIA vs. Bilibili Gaming | 2 PM | 4 PM | 11 PM |
| Nov 6 | T1 vs. Karmine Corp | 2 PM | 4 PM | 11 PM |
Show more time zones
- Americas: 5 PM ET / 7 PM BRT (Brazil)
- Europe: 10 PM GMT (UK)
- Asia (next day): 6 AM China (UTC+8) / 7 AM KST (South Korea)
All quarterfinals share the same start time. Matches in Asia begin on the following calendar day.
Worlds 2026 Playoff Start Times by Time Zone
All quarterfinals and semifinals share the same start time. The Grand Final on November 14 begins three hours earlier. The table below covers North America, Brazil, Europe, China and South Korea.
| Time Zone | Nov 3-8 | Nov 14 Final |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific (PST) | 2 PM | 11 AM |
| Central US (CST) | 4 PM | 1 PM |
| Eastern (EST) | 5 PM | 2 PM |
| Brazil (BRT) | 7 PM | 4 PM |
| UK (GMT) | 10 PM | 7 PM |
| Central Europe (CET) | 11 PM | 8 PM |
| China (UTC+8) | 6 AM (+1 day) | 3 AM (+1 day) |
| South Korea (KST) | 7 AM (+1 day) | 4 AM (+1 day) |
When Are the Worlds 2026 Semifinals and Grand Final?
The Worlds 2026 semifinals take place on November 7 and 8, followed by the Grand Final on November 14. All three series are best-of-five, with the winners advancing and the losing teams eliminated.
How Does the Worlds 2026 Playoff Format Work?
The Worlds 2026 playoffs use an eight-team single-elimination bracket, consisting of quarterfinals, semifinals and the Grand Final. Every matchup is a best-of-five (Bo5), meaning the first team to win three games wins the series.
Unlike a double-elimination tournament, there is no lower bracket. A single series loss eliminates a team from Worlds 2026.
The knockout stage also uses Fearless Draft. Under this format, champions picked in previous games of a series become unavailable to both teams for the remainder of that same series. This means teams must adapt their champion selections throughout a Bo5.
Where Are the Worlds 2026 Knockout Matches Being Played?
The Worlds 2026 quarterfinals and semifinals will be held at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas, United States, from November 3 to 8.
The Grand Final takes place on November 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, where the remaining two teams will compete for the World Championship title.
Where Can You Watch the Worlds 2026 Playoffs Live?
The Worlds 2026 playoffs will be streamed for free through official LoL Esports channels. Fans can watch on the Riot Games Twitch channel, the LoL Esports website and the official LoL Esports YouTube channel.
Authorized content creators will also host co-streams in multiple languages. For additional viewing options, check Strafe's Worlds 2026 official streams and co-streamers guide.
Follow Strafe's full Worlds 2026 coverage for the match schedule, results, participating teams, and more from the League of Legends World Championship.
Follow Strafe Esports for the latest League of Legends news, and check out our X account for more updates and coverage. You can also visit the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
Featured image credit: Riot Games
