LCK Season Playoffs 2026 preview: Teams, schedule, odds, favorites, and more

Naerlyn Published August 26, 2026

The regular season of the LCK 2026 has concluded with the top five being more competitive than ever. Now, it’s time they showed who actually is the best in the LCK Season Playoffs 2026. While Hanwha Life Esports has already booked their ticket to the 2026 League of Legends World Championship, there are three spots left to grab for the others.

The eight best LCK teams will compete between August 26 and September 13 in a double elimination tournament (preceded by a play-in stage). Find out all about this tournament as well as our picks and favorites in this LCK Season Playoffs 2026 betting preview.

LCK Season Playoffs 2026 odds

The esports betting odds will be added as bookmakers release them.

Eight LCK teams remaining

The LCK Season Play-in and Playoffs 2026 teams (with regular season wins-losses) are:

• 1. Gen.G (19-7)
• 2. Hanwha Life Esports (19-7)
• 3. T1 (17-9)
• 4. Dplus KIA (17-9)
• 5. KT Rolster (15-11)
• 6. HANJIN BRION (10-16)
• 7. Nongshim RedForce (10-16)
• 8. BNK FearX (10-16)

Season Playoffs schedule and first matches

Play-in

• August 26: Round 1 qualification match (KT vs BRO)
• August 27: Round 1 elimination match (NS vs BFX)
• August 28: Round 2 qualification match

Playoffs

• August 29: Round 1 upper bracket match 1
• August 30: Round 1 upper bracket match 2
• September 1: Round 2 upper bracket match 1
• September 2: Round 2 upper bracket match 2
• September 3: Round 1 lower bracket
• September 4: Round 2 lower bracket
• September 5: Upper final
• September 6: Round 3 lower bracket
• September 12: Lower final
• September 13: Grand final

Can the Unkillable Demon King finally win an LCK title again? Image credit: Riot Games

Season Playoffs format

• The bottom four teams start in the play-in, while the top four start directly in the playoffs.
• The LCK Season Play-in has a higher qualifier and a lower elimination match. Then, the loser of the qualifier faces the winner of the elimination in a second qualifier. The two winners join the playoffs.
• The LCK Season Playoffs is a double-elimination bracket among the remaining six teams.
• The top two teams start directly in round 2, and the next four start in round 1.
• All matches are best-of-five.

The top three teams at the end of the Season Playoffs qualify for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship, starting October 15. Alongside them, HLE is also already qualified from winning the Mid-Season Invitational. If they place in the top three, then the fourth team will also receive a Worlds spot.

LCK Season Playoffs: Who are the favorites?

KT Rolster has lost their way in recent weeks, and it’s unlikely that they’ll recover in time to face the other top teams. As for the other four, that’s where things become more complicated. T1, Gen.G, HLE, and DK are all neck-and-neck.

Of them all, Gen.G is the favorite. First off, simply considering playoffs placement, they have the fewest matches to play to reach the final, and they get opponent selection for round 2. If we see all matches as a near toss-up, this is already an advantage in itself.

That aside, they’ve shown the most consistency. The more the meta goes back to slower games, the more they shine again. Gen.G’s main strength is that they passively generate a lead with wave management, and also use it to put deep layers of vision around objectives.

Dplus KIA, the rising star of the LCK. Image credit: Riot Games

On the other end, HLE and T1 thrive in the chaos. Hanwha Life fully depends on the performances of Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok as he alternates between being the best and the worst jungler in the league. As for T1, they will make the game bloody, and one team will pay the price for it. Both of them could win any series but lack the consistency to be favorites through an entire bracket.

Lastly comes Dplus KIA. While Gen.G has accrued the best score over the year, DK was the star of Rounds 3-4. Still riding the high of their EWC victory, Dplus KIA also plays a more controlled style. Then, they fire with an excellent mid game. While Gen.G is the favorite, DK is the second most likely candidate to win the LCK Season Playoffs.

Let us know your predictions on our forums.

Featured Image Credit: Riot Games