LEC 2026 shakes up the season with LEC Versus, Roadtrip expansion, and format changes

Riot Games has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) for 2026, starting with the introduction of LEC Versus, a new tournament.

Instead of the traditional LEC Winter Split, the 2026 season will now open with LEC Versus, a 12-team invitational that brings together the 10 LEC partner organizations. Two elite squads invited by the developer from the European regional leagues will join to ignite fresh rivalries across Europe, while giving the academy teams a chance to match up against the best.