In a significant structural reversal, the North American LCS (League Championship Series) and Brazilian CBLOL (Brazilian Championship of League of Legends) leagues will return as fully independent competitions in 2026, bringing an end to the combined League of the Americas (LTA) experiment after a single year.

The move, announced by Riot Games, signals a direct response to community feedback, with organisers stating that the restoration of the “legacy brands” is intended to “honour the passion of fans.” The decision underscores the perceived primacy of regional history and pride within the esports ecosystem.

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According to the announcement, the core reason for the change is that “fans feel the deepest pride and connection to their original leagues, and missed that element in LTA.” The statement elaborated, “Regional pride and history are core to the League of Legends esports experience, and our communities consistently told us they wanted their leagues back. Not just the LTA wearing the old brands, but a true restoration of the leagues.”

While the LTA was introduced in 2025 with the goal of “raising competitiveness across the region” and creating “more high-stakes matchups,” it ultimately proved that the emotional connection to distinct regional competitions was a more powerful driver for the community.

Key Changes for 2026

With the dissolution of the LTA, the cross-regional playoffs will be removed. Each league will now run its own season and crown its own champion independently. This shift is expected to allow for “longer splits and simpler formats,” making schedules “easier to follow” and giving teams “more time on stage to hone their skills.”

International qualification will also revert to the 2024 model. For the 2026 season, the slots will be allocated as follows:

  • First Stand: LCS and CBLOL will each qualify one team.
  • Mid-Season Invitational (MSI): LCS will qualify two teams; CBLOL will qualify one team.
  • Worlds: LCS will qualify three teams; CBLOL will qualify one team.

Both leagues will continue to operate on a three-split calendar but with updated formats designed to address feedback that the 2025 structures were “too compressed and overly complex.” Each region will also host its own Finals event to conclude the seasonal year.

Latin American teams will remain integrated into the ecosystem, competing within the LCS and CBLOL structures. The LLA (former Latin American League) will not return as a standalone league, with teams LYON and Leviatán remaining as Partner Teams in the LCS and CBLOL, respectively.

Other elements retained from the LTA period include the Guest Team slot for both leagues, a continued focus on strengthening the path-to-pro for Tier-2 players, and the consistency in calendar scheduling that solved “key pain points from 2024.”

The announcement concluded by framing the change as a hybrid approach, stating: “This isn’t just a return—it’s a step forward, built to make both leagues stronger for the future and more connected to the players, teams, and communities that define them.” Further details on the 2026 formats are expected before the end of this year.