Everything you need to know about LEC Versus 2026

Riot Games has confirmed the format and schedule for LEC Versus, the new event replacing the Winter Split in 2026.

The usual 10 LEC organisations will be joined by two additional teams as Riot invites 2025’s best-performing ERL teams.

The 12 rosters will then compete to become EMEA’s sole representative at the First Stand international League of Legends tournament.

LEC Versus will kick off the 2026 season when the league returns from its offseason on January 17th, 2026.

#LEC Versus kicks off on January 17!

Full schedule: https://t.co/w6re8uhcU4 pic.twitter.com/SVAQhd6JHl

— LEC (@LEC) December 16, 2025

What teams are competing in LEC Versus 2026?

Alongside the 10 LEC partners, Riot has invited the EMEA Masters Summer 2025 champions and the most consistent ERL team of 2025.

The best-performing team was Marc ‘Caedrel Lamont’s Los Ratones as the streaming team won three NLC titles and two EMEA Masters.

Los Ratones have kept their full line-up for 2026 as it was confirmed full-time streamer Simon ‘Baus’ Hofverberg will play in LEC Versus.

Los Ratones’ win streak was brought to an end in a brutal 3-0 stomp by Kamrine Corp Blue, the academy team to the LEC roster.

KCorp Blue went on to win EMEA Masters Summer 2025, and will also compete in LEC Versus as a result.

There’s also a new face in Shifters, the brand new name and rebrand of the team formerly known as Team BDS.

And 2026 will be the first full LoL season for Natus Vincere (NAVI) after their LEC debut last Summer.

The 12 LEC Versus 2026 teams are:

• Fnatic
• G2 Esports
• GIANTX
• Karmine Corp
• Movistar KOI
• NAVI
• Shifters
• SK Gaming
• Team Heretics
• Team Vitality
• [Guest] Karmine Corp Blue
• [Guest] Los Ratones

LEC Versus 2026 format

LEC versus will start with a single Round Robin of best-of-ones, meaning every team will be guaranteed to play each other at least once.

Best-of-ones aren’t usually popular with LoL esports fans, but Riot claims this is due to the tight turnaround before First Stand starts in March.

Each gameday for the opening round will feature six best-of-ones to keep the tournament moving quickly.

Four weeks later, the top eight teams will then advance into the Playoffs and compete for the First Stand slot.

Rounds 1 and 2 of the LEC Versus Playoffs will be best-of-threes, then the remaining games will all be best-of-fives.

The Playoffs will be double-elimination, meaning two losses will spell elimination for a team.

LEC Versus opening week schedule

LEC Versus will start Saturday, January 17th, at 4 pm GMT with Los Ratones’ LEC debut kicking off the tournament.

Los Ratones will face another UK-based organisation in Fnatic for their first match as Martin ‘Rekkles’ Larsson and Tim ‘Nemesis’ Lipovšek.

Meanwhile, fans will also immediately be treated to the Karmine Corp derby as the French organisation’s two teams will square off.

And in the final match of Week 1, Day 1, G2 Esports and Movistar KOI will face off in a rematch of the Summer Split Playoffs final.

Then on Sunday, January 18th, Los Ratones will have a chance at revenge after KCorp Blue embarrassed them in a 3-0 stomp.

And there will be the next edition of the heated rivalry between French and Spanish fans when MKOI take on KCorp to end Week 1, Day 2.

The full schedule for week 1 is a follows:

Week 1, day 1 (January 17th)

• 4:00 pm – Los Ratones vs Fnatic
• 4:45 pm – GIANTX vs Shifters
• 5:30 pm – NAVI vs Team Heretics
• 6:15 pm – Team Vitality vs SK Gaming
• 7:00 pm – KCorp vs KCorp Blue
• 7:45 pm – G2 Esports vs MKOI

Week 1, day 2 (January 18th)

• 4:00 pm – Team Heretics vs Shifters
• 4:45 pm – Los Ratones vs KCorp Blue
• 5:30 pm – Team Vitality vs NAVI
• 6:15 pm – SK Gaming vs Fnatic
• 7:00 pm – G2 Esports vs GIANTX
• 7:45 pm – MKOI vs KCorp

Week 1, day 3 (January 19th)

• 4:00 pm – NAVI vs Fnatic
• 4:45 pm – Team Vitality vs KCorp Blue
• 5:30 pm – Team Heretics vs GIANTX
• 6:15 pm – Shifters vs MKOI
• 7:00 pm – Los Ratones vs KCorp
• 7:45 pm – SK Gaming vs G2 Esports