Demacia Cup Global Invitational 2026 Group Stage

For its 14th year, the Demacia Cup gets a complete overhaul and becomes the Demacia Cup Global Invitational. Formerly an offseason tournament among the LPL teams and occasional guests, the event is now instead “Worlds for the next best”.

The best teams that did not qualify for the World Championship from each region participate in the Demacia Cup 2026. The format of this event mostly mirrors that of Worlds, except with 12 teams, meaning a modified Swiss round.

This tournament interestingly puts on the table questions that were never answered before. Everyone knows that the LCK dominates, closely followed by the LPL. Behind them lag the LEC and LCS, and the other regions act as wildcards.

But what if we go beyond the best teams? How quickly does each region fall off?

How will KT Rolster fare, having been a top Korean team all year long but failing to qualify at any international? Can Team WE’s explosive playstyle work internationally? How will Team Vitality do the one time they’re given a chance to face the other regions? All this in the Demacia Cup Global Invitational.