LEC Versus 2026: teams, format and players to watch

The 2026 League of Legends season begins with a brand-new first-quarter event. LEC Versus replaces LEC Winter and options all ten companion groups along with two invited groups from the EMEA Regional Leagues.

From the event format, schedule, and gamers to look at, Esports Insider breaks down the whole lot there’s to know concerning the inaugural version of LEC Versus 2026.

LEC Versus 2026 consists of the common season and playoffs. The common season, starting on January seventeenth, makes use of a single round-robin format the place the 12 groups compete in eleven best-of-one matches. The highest eight from the common season advance to the playoffs, the place a double-elimination bracket will decide the eventual champion.

The primary two rounds of the playoffs are contested over a best-of-three utilizing Fearless Draft. From spherical three onwards, groups will compete in best-of-fives.

The inaugural LEC Versus 2026 champion earns qualification to the 2026 First Stand Tournament, the primary worldwide occasion of the season.

Beneath is an inventory of the groups competing in LEC Versus 2026:

Primarily based on their performances in ERLs, Los Ratones and Karmine Corp Blue have obtained invitations. In 2025, the group based by Marc ‘Caedrel‘ Lamont dominated regional occasions, successful three NLC Splits and two EMEA Masters titles.

Karmine Corp Blue additionally achieved loads of success, successful EMEA Masters 2025 Summer time and the LFL’s Winter and Summer time Splits.

Heading into his eighth season representing G2 Esports, Rasmus ‘Caps‘ Borregaard Winther goals to cement his place amongst Europe’s most profitable mid laners.

Following victory at LEC Summer time 2025 and a top-eight end on the 2025 World Championship, Caps and G2 Esports goals to maintain the momentum rolling with a robust displaying in LEC Versus 2026.

Along with Caps, Panagiotis ‘Empyros‘ Tantis, the most recent addition to Fnatic’s roster for 2026 will probably be having a highlight. After competing within the LFL whereas representing Mild Mates within the tier-two ecosystem, the Greek high laner makes his tier 1 debut at LEC Versus 2026.

Fnatic got here near qualifying for a number of worldwide tournaments in 2025, and with the winner of Versus incomes a spot at First Stand, victory within the first LEC event of the 12 months may lay the foundations for a probably fruitful season.

Elsewhere, Marek ‘Humanoid‘ Brázda heads into 2026 trying to spark Crew Vitality into life after becoming a member of from Fnatic. Having missed out on victory for the reason that 2021 Summer time Cut up, the most recent mid laner for the French organisation appears to revive hope after struggling to seek out success because it joined the LEC in 2016.

One other notable title returning to the LEC in 2026 is Martin ‘Rekkles‘ Larsson. The previous Fnatic participant joined Los Ratones in 2024 and continues to make an affect with a number of victories within the tier-two ecosystem this 12 months. LEC Versus 2026 marks the primary time in three years that Rekkles has competed in Europe’s highest tier. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how he and the group fare in opposition to a few of the area’s powerhouse rosters.

Riot Video games will broadcast the inaugural the occasion throughout a variety of platforms, permitting followers to maintain monitor of all of the motion because it unfolds.

Followers can tune into matches on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok. For another perspective of the motion, a number of notable personalities will co-stream matches all through the Cut up.