First Stand 2026 final peaked at 1.5 million viewers, rising numbers compared to last year

The first viewership figures from the First Stand have been released, and the results appear rather positive. According to statistics revealed by Esports Charts, the final of the event held this Sunday between and —which saw the Chinese team claim the first international title in their history—peaked at just over 1.5 million viewers, excluding China.

This figure represents a significant increase compared to last year’s edition. Unsurprisingly, the tournament final was the most-watched match, surpassing last year’s peak of just over 1.1 million viewers for the clash between and . Notably, the second most-watched match of this year’s event—between G2 Esports and —also exceeded that previous record, reaching 1.4 million viewers.

These indicators suggest growing interest in the competition. In the past, the event had sometimes been criticized as the least interesting international tournament and the least representative of overall competitive level, largely due to its placement at the beginning of the season.

The increase in viewership may also be partly explained by match schedules that were more accessible for Western audiences, as well as the presence of teams such as Bilibili Gaming, G2 Esports, and Gen.G Esports—organizations that have been major representatives of their regions in recent years and potentially more appealing to viewers than some participants in previous editions.

The competition’s average viewership also confirms this upward trend, reaching 604,468 viewers compared to 509,029 last year. Among the other most-watched matches, the two LCK vs. LPL showdowns rank third and fourth: first the clash between Gen.G and JD Gaming, followed by the tournament’s opening match between BLG and . The decisive match between G2 and BNK FEARX completes the top five.