League of Legends World Championship 2026 Heads to Texas and New York
Riot Games has announced the locations for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship and other major international events scheduled for next year. The season-ending event will unfold across two major U.S. cities: Texas and New York City.
Event Overview
This will be the first time since 2022 that the tournament takes place in North America. 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, while New York City will hold the Grand Final.
“The city of Allen, Texas will play host to the Play-In, Swiss stage, and the Playoffs. New York City, New York, will host the Grand Final.” — Riot Games
Exact venues for each phase have not yet been confirmed.
Global Expansion and Tournament History
Excluding the years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2026 marks the first instance in three years that Worlds will be held across two cities. In 2023, Busan and Seoul shared hosting duties for each phase of the competition, reinforcing the event’s global rotation strategy.
First Stand 2026: New Season’s Opening Event
Besides revealing the World Championship location, Riot Games also outlined plans for the second edition of First Stand, the first international tournament of the 2026 season. Set for March 16–22 in São Paulo, Brazil, the event will expand from six to eight participating teams and introduce best-of-five matches throughout the tournament.
“First Stand 2026 heads to São Paulo, Brazil, with expanded participation and a best-of-five format.” — Riot Games
League of Legends esports continues to strengthen its global presence, connecting diverse fan communities through its international competitions.
Author’s Summary
The 2026 World Championship will bring League of Legends action to Texas and New York, marking its North American return with expanded global tournaments and new competitive formats.