Two Summer splits spots are decided through a qualifier between the lowest-ranked NACL teams and top amateurs teams
This Tuesday December 16, Riot Games has unveiled full details for the 2026 season of the North American Challengers League (NACL), rearranging the region's path-to-pro circuit. Following Disguised’s successful defense of their Guest Slot in the inaugural Promotion Tournament, the league is set to return in late March 2026 with structural and policy revisions aimed at refining competitive integrity and player development.
Seasonal structure
The 2026 season will once again feature two splits, maintaining a calendar alignment with the LCS (excluding the Lock-In) to support smoother talent promotion between tiers.
Spring Split will keep the single Round Robin Best-of-3 format used in 2025. The top six teams from the regular season will advance to a Double Elimination Playoffs, while the bottom two will face Open Qualifier teams in the Promotion Tournament to retain their league spots. The first seed will gain bracket-side selection, and all matches will continue using the Fearless Draft system.
Summer Split introduces a revised format built around competitive feedback. The ten participating teams will be split into two groups of five, determined through a draft process involving the top two Spring Split seeds. Teams will play cross-group Best-of-3 matches.
At the end of the stage:
- The top three teams in each group will move directly to playoffs.
- The fourth and fifth seeds will enter a Last Chance Qualifier to decide playoff and relegation outcomes.
Playoffs will once again use a Double Elimination structure, with the top two teams qualifying for the LCS Promotion Tournament at year’s end. Fearless Draft will be retained across all stages.
Policy Updates
Riot also confirmed three significant policy changes targeting contract structure, eligibility, and residency rules.
- Contract Database Adjustments: The league is removing California-based employment requirements for Tier 2 teams, originally inherited from the Academy system. A buyout cap—set at six months of salary—will now apply to NACL player contracts to prevent mobility restrictions. Teams may register up to five players and one coach in the Global Contract Database.
- Age Eligibility: The minimum age for participation is reverting from 17 back to 16 years old starting in 2026, in response to community feedback and to facilitate earlier player development paths.
- Residency Policy: The Americas Residency Slot is being removed in line with Tier 1 adjustments. Teams may now include up to two non-resident players, with the remainder required to hold North American residency.
Open Qualifiers and Promotion
The NACL will host a single Open Qualifier during the Spring Split in 2026. The top-performing amateur teams from this qualifier will challenge the bottom NACL teams for two Summer Split spots. Following this change, the second Open Qualifier will shift to the start of 2027, establishing a consistent annual cycle and reducing overlap with the competitive season. Riot plans to release updated registration details and official dates for the Spring Split Open Qualifier early next year.
Header Photo Credit: Riot Games
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