Games developer Riot Games has revealed the exciting locations for its upcoming international League of Legends esports events in 2026 and 2027. The announcements were made during League of Legends’ first dev blog of 2025, where Riot Games’ Global Head of League of Legends Esports, Chris Greeley, and COO of Esports, Whalen Rozelle, shared the news.
The 2026 World Championship is set to take place in North America, marking a return to the continent which last hosted the event in 2022 across San Francisco, Atlanta, New York, and Mexico City. North American fans can also look forward to MSI 2025 being held in Canada before the World Championship in 2026.
Furthermore, in 2026, League of Legends’ First Stand event will venture to Brazil, bringing the competition to the country for the first time since MSI 2017. Additionally, MSI 2026 will return to South Korea, a familiar venue for the event.
Whalen Rozelle expressed excitement about First Stand 2026 in Brazil, stating: “Brazilian fans bring amazing energy to live events and we’re excited to kick off the season in such a vibrant esports community.”
Looking ahead to 2027, the First Stand event will make its way to Southeast Asia, while MSI is set to return to Europe and the League of Legends World Championship will once again be held in South Korea.
While specific details such as venues, dates, and formats were not revealed during the announcement, fans can anticipate more information as the events draw closer. The news also highlighted gameplay updates and in-game cosmetics, offering a glimpse into the changes coming to League of Legends esports in 2025.
One notable change is that all major League of Legends competitions will now feature three splits per year, with each split culminating in an international event. With MSI 2025 in Canada, the debut of First Stand in Seoul, South Korea, and Worlds 2025 heading to China, the future looks bright for League of Legends esports.