LoL: Riot reveals plans for the return of LCS and CBLOL

While news of the league’s rebranding had already been reported a few days ago, Riot Games has now officially confirmed the return of the LCS and CBLOL, sharing full details on how the transition will take shape. The decision reflects months of fan feedback, with supporters voicing a strong desire to see their regions reclaim their historic identities.

Riot framed the move as both a restoration and an evolution, and tries to bring back the regional pride that has always defined League of Legends esports while carrying forward key lessons from 2025. In the end, both regions will be separated again, and become simpler for everyone to follow. They clarified the situation for certain partner teams, and provided more information on the qualification systems for international tournaments in 2026.

From 2026 onward, the LCS and CBLOL will run their own seasons with no cross-regional playoffs. Each league will host longer splits with simplified, more consistent formats, culminating in their own finals at the end of the year. With dedicated calendars, teams will benefit from more time on stage, while fans will find schedules easier to follow.

International qualification will also align with the 2024 model. The LCS will send three teams to Worlds, two to MSI, and one to First Stand, while the CBLOL will qualify one representative for each of those tournaments. Riot explained that removing cross-conference competition provides space for both leagues to strengthen their identities, without sacrificing high-stakes international opportunities.

Although the LTA concept is being retired, some of its successful features will remain. Latin American participation will be integrated, with LYON continuing as a partner team in the LCS and Leviatán holding the same role in the CBLOL. It is also told that the LLA will not be restored as it was as a standalone league. Guest team slots, designed to keep Tier 1 and Tier 2 competition connected, will also return next year. They also stated there will be stable match weekends, and fans won't see games played randomly during a week for instance.

The creation of the LTA was initially aimed at raising the competitive bar across the Americas. By merging North America, Brazil, and Latin America into one ecosystem, Riot hoped to create more thrilling matches and a stronger path toward sustainability through innovations like the Global Revenue Pool.

However, fan reactions quickly made it clear that something had been lost. While deepest bonds between fans and the leagues are defined by strong histories, unique cultures, and fierce rivalries, Riot saw the viewership of the LTA decreasing a lot this year, despite having some interesting scenarios. Riot acknowledged that this sense of regional identity is essential to the League of Legends esports experience, and felt that the only way to fully restore it was to bring back the LCS and CBLOL as independent competitions.