This Wednesday, November 5, the
LCP, the Southeast Asian
League of Legends competition,
shared new details about the format updates coming in 2026. Still divided into three splits, the league will begin on
January 16, 2026, with eight teams once again competing for the title of LCP champion.
The league is adjusting its approach for the third split, which will now feature a Swiss Stage composed exclusively of best-of-three and best-of-five matches. Unlike in 2025, teams will no longer be able to qualify for Worlds without winning a BO5. They also introduce a Championship Points system, and a 2v2 side-selection system is also being introduced.
All upcoming updates
Split 3 adopts Swiss format
LCP Split 3 will include a Swiss Stage that will be combining BO3 and BO5 matches. Teams will face others with similar records, designed to create more balanced confrontations and varied matchups. Qualification and elimination rounds will use BO5s.
All Playoffs now Best-of-five
Every Playoff series across the season will be played in BO5. The change eliminates shorter series for international qualification matches, pushing teams to adapt through longer, more strategic sets.
Championship Points introduced
A new points system will track team performances over all three splits. The final Worlds slot for the region will no longer depend only on Split 3 but on consistent results throughout the year.
New schedule in Split 1
Split 1 matches will begin earlier, at 2PM GMT+8 instead of 5:30PM. The league will test this schedule during the first split before confirming whether it continues in later stages.
2v2 replaces 1v1 for side selection
The former 1v1 duel format gives way to 2v2 battles. The update is meant to make side selections faster and more dynamic during broadcast days.
With these adjustments, the LCP retains its identity while refining competitive balance and viewer experience. The league will share more details about Championship Points and promotion procedures closer to the 2026 kickoff on January 16.
Header Photo Credit: LCP/Riot Games
