The LTA era ends as the LCS and CBLOL return for the 2026 season, answering fans’ calls since the format change.
After just one year with the unified format, the League of Legends Championship of the Americas (LTA) will revert to its previous structure for the 2026 season. The leagues will operate just as they did before, except when it comes to international qualifications. Here’s what to expect next year.
LCS and CBLOL will come back in 2026!
Riot Games revealed that the League Championship Series (LCS) and the Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends (CBLOL) will return in 2026, restoring their brands and regional identities.
In 2025, Riot unified the two leagues to raise competitiveness across the region, create more high-stakes matchups, and test innovations that the old structure didn’t allow. However, the change failed to deliver the results they wanted. "Regional pride and history are core to the League of Legends esports experience, and our communities consistently told us they wanted their leagues back," they added.
What changes?
The 2026 League of Legends season will bring back old formats, with international qualifications as the main change. In the First Stand, both regions will secure one spot. At the Mid-Season Invitational, the LCS will send two teams, while the CBLOL will send one. For Worlds, the LCS will have three slots, while the South American league will get one.
The second edition of the First Stand will be happening in Brazil. It's been eight years since Brazil held an international LoL event. In 2017, the MSI tournament happened in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. SK Telecom T1, now known as only T1, defeated G2 Esports by 3-1.
Riot Games will remove cross-conference play, leaving more calendar space for regional competition. This update makes room for longer splits and simpler formats. In 2026, the LCS and CBLOL will follow a three-split calendar with updated formats, with a focus on clarity, consistency, and stronger rivalries.
Both leagues will close the year with finals events. These will let fans enjoy the League of Legends experience and celebrate the end of each regional season.
Latin American teams join the CBLOL
The return of the regional competitions doesn't mean everything will be the same. The LCS will support all of North and Central America, while the CBLOL will bring together South America (Brazil and Latin America). LYON will stay as a Partner Team in the LCS, and Leviatán will stay as a Partner Team in the CBLOL.
Both leagues will continue to feature a guest team slot in 2026, with the LCS welcoming a team from the NACL or LRN and the CBLOL welcoming a team from the CD or LRS. More updates on the 2026 season will be shared in the coming months.
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