League of Legends World Championship 2026 to be Held in Texas and New York
Riot Games announced the locations for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship and other international tournaments scheduled for next year. The championship will be hosted across Texas and New York City, marking the first time since 2022 that the event returns to North America.
Event Structure and Locations
During the media day before the Worlds 2025 Grand Final between T1 and KT Rolster, Riot Games revealed that Allen, Texas will host the Play-In, Swiss stage, and Playoffs phases of the tournament. The Grand Final will be held in New York City, New York. Specific venues for each stage have not yet been disclosed.
Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic years, 2026 will be the first time in three years that Worlds is hosted across two cities.
For comparison, in 2023, the tournament stages were divided between the South Korean cities of Busan and Seoul.
First Stand 2026 International Tournament Announcement
Riot Games also announced the second edition of First Stand, the first international tournament of the 2026 season. Scheduled from March 16th to 22nd, First Stand 2026 will take place in São Paulo, Brazil.
- The number of competing teams will increase from six to eight.
- Matches will be played in a best-of-five format throughout the tournament.
League of Legends esports has a strong presence in São Paulo, making it a familiar location for international events.
Summary
The 2026 League of Legends World Championship returns to North America, with multi-city hosting in Texas and New York, while First Stand expands in Brazil, reflecting Riot Games' growth and global reach.