2026 LCS Lock-In preview: Format, schedule and predictions

Naerlyn Published January 15, 2026

Our LCS Lock-In preview contains everything you need to know about the tournament including its format, dates, teams, and odds. The LCS is back, no more LTA, and the Winter tournament will give one team the ticket to represent North America at First Stand 2026 in March.

Find our predictions about which teams we think will do well at the LCS Lock-In, beginning on January 24th. With FlyQuest changing their entire roster, who will step up and replace them as the best team?

Event overview

Format and Schedule

The LCS Lock-In will run for 5 weeks, over two stages.

Swiss Stage (January 24th – February 9th)

• 8 teams participate in a Swiss format with 3 rounds, plus a tiebreaker between the 6th and 7th places.
• The top 6 teams advance to the playoffs. The two teams with a 1-2 score start in the loser’s bracket.
• All matches are Best of 3s.

Playoffs (February 14th – March 1st)

• All 6 qualified teams play in a double elimination bracket.
• The bottom 2 teams start in the loser’s bracket.
• All matches are Best of 5s.
• The winner qualifies for First Stand 2026.

Learn more about the 2026 LCS’s format.

The LCS Lock-in format after the draw show. Image Source: Riot Games

LCS Lock-In Teams

8 teams play in the LCS Lock-In, just like last year. Since it’s important to be well-informed on the participants when betting on LoL esports, here are the teams competing at the event:

• FlyQuest
• Sentinels
• Shopify Rebellion
• Cloud9
• Disguised
• Team Liquid
• LYON
• Dignitas

For more on these teams, read up on their new rosters there.

The LCS 2026 teams. Image Source: Riot Games

Outright Odds

Here are the LCS Lock-In teams with their respective odds to win the event. Odds are provided by GG.Bet on Jan. 14.

Jaxon.gg LCS Lock-In Predictions

Now for our LCS Lock-In predictions! This year, the LCS is in a weird spot after its undisputed best team just replaced most of its roster. Alongside them, the next four teams in line also made crucial changes. With that, which team will win this event is hard to gauge, and the LCS Lock-In odds at esports betting sites we’ve reviewed here at Jaxon.gg reflect that.

However, our LCS Lock-In preview is also here to help you make your picks.

Read also: Best League of Legends players of all time

Cloud9, winning since 2013

Cloud9 has been there since the creation of the LCS, and they’ve always been near or at the top. It’s not just about the rosters; the organization has what it takes to elevate its players into champions. With more wins than any other contestant, C9 is the safest bet to win the LCS Lock-In (odds to win: 4).

In 2025, before being surprisingly eliminated by Shopify Rebellion, C9 struggled only against FlyQuest. However, in 2026, Fly is no longer the team it used to be. Furthermore, Cloud9 has only replaced their mid laner and coaching staff, and APA looks to be an upgrade over Loki.

While other teams might need months to find their synergy, Cloud9 is ready to hit the ground running. For a tournament that’ll be over in 6 weeks, they have a clear advantage and are the favorites to win the LCS Lock-In.

Team Liquid, the Winter Winners

Team Liquid is a strong horse to bet on (odds to win: 6). The pros state that C9 and TL are the two best teams, and yet they have low LCS Lock-In odds.

Team Liquid had subpar results at the end of 2025, but it was known that morale was at an all-time low at the time. Before that, they did win the Winter split of 2025 to play in the first edition of First Stand. Coming into 2026, they replaced their top laner and jungler, and most importantly, their mid laner. TL’s new mid laner, Quid, ended 2025 as a candidate for the best mid laner in North America, and Liquid could well reenact last year’s Winter feat with him.

FlyQuest, betting on the unknown

FlyQuest was the American team in 2025, but now half of their roster is gone – and that includes the MVP Inspired. Now, it’s hard to guess how their young new team will fare. However, with Quad and Massu still in, they’re guaranteed to be competitive. Fly is the best underdog pick, and they will punch above their LCS Lock-In odds (odds to win: 7).

Featured Image Source: Riot Games