LEC Winter Format Update Overview

LEC Winter 2026 has undergone significant changes to make the league more dynamic, competitive, and engaging. One of the most debated decisions was the addition of two EMEA teams. Let’s take a closer look at how this will work and how it will affect the tournament.

LEC Versus – what is it and what is the format?

LEC Versus replaces the traditional Winter Split and makes the start of the season more engaging: LEC teams will compete together with two top ERL representatives in a single tournament. The idea is straightforward: strengthen the internal rivalries within the EMEA region, create more opportunities for new storylines, and allow teams to test their updated rosters.

The tournament features twelve teams: ten permanent LEC teams and two invited ERL teams. One of these invitations automatically goes to the EMEA Masters Summer champions, while the second is given to a team recognized for consistent and outstanding performance throughout the 2025 EMEA Masters season. These invitations do not grant any rights to play in the LEC — they only serve as a reward for reaching a level worthy of the regional stage. For example, one of those invited teams is Los Ratones, who secured two consecutive EMEA Masters titles, three NLC championships, and a Top 4 finish in the Summer Split, making them one of the strongest forces in the ERL ecosystem.

Credit: lolesports.com

The Regular Season begins with a Single Round Robin, where every team faces every other team in Best-of-One matches. The top eight teams advance to the Playoffs, which use a double-elimination format. The first two rounds are played as Best-of-Three, while all remaining matches are Best-of-Five. All Playoff series will use the Fearless Draft ruleset.

Credit: lolesports.com

The winner receives a trophy designed specifically for this tournament and, most importantly, earns the only EMEA slot for First Stand — the international event where champions from all major regions will compete.

What happens with the LEC Spring and Summer Splits?

The formats of the LEC Spring and Summer Splits 2026 remain unchanged and follow the same structure used during the 2025 season. Both splits feature the ten permanent LEC teams, who will continue fighting for MSI and Worlds qualification in a stable and familiar system.

Each split follows the same format: a Single Round Robin played in Best-of-Three matches. After the group stage, the strongest teams advance to the Playoffs, where all series are played in Best-of-Five.

More answers about LEC Versus and an opinion on the tournament

A very important question that many people wondered about – and even worried about – is what happens if teams like Karmine Corp and Karmine Corp Blue end up facing each other, especially in Playoffs or even in the Finals. The conflict of interest here is obvious, and how exactly this issue will be handled is still unclear. The organizers only say that measures will be taken to ensure competitive integrity, but what those measures are hasn’t been specified.

Will EMEA teams participate in other splits?

The answer to this question is no. The invited teams participate only in LEC Versus and do not have the same rights as LEC partner teams. LEC teams are part of the league’s revenue-sharing model, while ERL teams receive only a stipend for their participation. After the tournament, they return to competing in ERLs and EMEA Masters.

Overall, our opinion is that LEC Versus is a great opportunity for ERL and EMEA Masters teams to improve their level of play. And this won’t go unnoticed by LEC teams either. Players from a slightly lower league also have their own strengths, talented individuals, and interesting strategies. This approach can push LEC teams out of their comfort zone a bit and create more competitive diversity.