Get ready for an expanded Demacia Cup! League of Legends’ popular domestic tournament is set to transform into an international invitational event in 2026. This significant evolution will see top teams from around the globe, who narrowly missed out on a spot in the 2026 World Championship, compete for a new prestigious title.
Demacia Cup: A New International Stage
Scheduled to take place from October 3rd to 27th, 2026, the Demacia Cup will no longer be confined to the LPL region. Instead, it will welcome 12 highly competitive teams from six major global leagues. These invitations will be extended to the highest-ranked teams that did not qualify for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship. This initiative promises to offer fans more high-stakes professional League of Legends action and a chance to see promising teams shine on an international platform.
Invited Teams and Regional Breakdown
The 12 invited teams will be drawn from the following regions, based on their 2026 season performance:
- LPL (China): Teams ranked 5th, 6th, and 7th in the regional standings.
- LCK (South Korea): Teams ranked 5th, 6th, and 7th in the regional standings.
- LCS (North America): Teams ranked 4th and 5th in the regional standings.
- LEC (Europe): Teams ranked 4th and 5th in the regional standings.
- LCO (Pacific Championship Series): The 4th ranked team in the regional standings.
- CBLOL (Brazil): The 4th ranked team in the regional standings.
This selection criteria ensures that the Demacia Cup will feature teams that have demonstrated strong performance throughout the year, providing a high level of competition.
Tournament Format and Venue
The 2026 Demacia Cup International Invitational will be jointly organized by TJ Sports and Huya Live. The tournament will be divided into two main phases: a Group Stage and an Eight-Team Playoffs stage. The thrilling playoff matches, leading to the crowning of the champion, will be held offline at the Beijing E-sports Center, famously known as the JDG home stadium.
This move to an international format marks a significant step for the Demacia Cup, elevating its status within the global League of Legends esports ecosystem. Fans can look forward to exciting matchups and the emergence of new international rivalries.
