Season Start 2026: LoL Esports Updates

Naerlyn Published January 9, 2026

The League of Legends Season 2026 has started, and LoL Esports resumes for 2026 next week. As the season starts, Riot has announced details about First Stand 2026 and crucial changes to the draft pick in pro play. Read up on the changes before the LCK and the LPL kick off the action on Wednesday, 14th January.

2026 Split 1 Dates

• LCK: January 14th – March 1st
• LPL: January 14th – TBA (Early March) (see LPL Split 1 preview)
• LCP: January 16th – March 1st
• LEC: January 17th – March 1st (see LEC Versus preview)
• LCS: January 24th – March 1st

The winners will qualify for First Stand 2026.

First Stand 2026 Dates and Information

First Stand returns in 2026 with a few changes. This year, 8 teams will participate:

• x2 LCK
• x2 LPL
• x1 from the LEC
• x1 LCS
• x1 LCP
• x1 CBLOL

The teams are separated into two groups, where they compete in a double-elimination qualifier bracket. Then, the four teams that qualified play in a single-elimination bracket like last year. The winner receives a bye to the MSI Bracket Stage. This time, all matches are Best of 5s.

First Stand 2026 will be held from March 16th to March 22nd in the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil.

Read also: Best LoL players of all time

MSI and Worlds venues: South Korea and United States

MSI 2026 will be played in Daejeon, South Korea. Then, the 2026 World Championship will go to the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas, all the way from the play-ins to the semifinals. The Worlds Finals will be played in New York with LoL odds available.

Pro play changes: Side Selection becomes First Selection

Up until now, one team had side selection in pro play. That team would either choose the blue side and pick first, or the red side and pick second.

In 2026, these two will be separate! One team gets First Selection instead, and they either choose whether they’ll be on the blue or red side, or whether they’ll pick first or second in the draft. Then, the other team chooses the other parameter.

This means that the red side can now get the first pick!

For each event, we publish a preview that includes event details like format, schedule, teams participating and odds analysis and predictions. So check back for coverage and LoL betting tips for the 2026 season.

Featured Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff / Riot Games