The LCK returns on April 1 with a Telecom War on opening day and nine weeks of competition

It’s official—the LCK 2026 season kicks off on April 1, with an exciting slate of matches lined up for Rounds 1 and 2. As teams battle for a spot in the Legend Group, several high-profile matchups are finally set to take place—many of which didn’t occur during the LCK Cup due to its format.

Fans can expect matches five days a week, from Wednesday through Sunday, running until May 31, with each broadcast day beginning at the usual 17:00 KST (09:00 CET) and featuring two best-of-three series. At the end of the regular season, the top six teams will advance to the “Road to MSI,” a king-of-the-hill–style playoff to determine the two representatives who will carry Korea’s banner at MSI in Daejeon.

All matches will be broadcast live on online platforms such as CHZZK and SOOP. Tickets for on-site viewing will be available through NOL Ticket, with reservations opening 48 hours in advance.

As Korean dominance continues across LoL Esports, the 2026 LCK is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and explosive seasons yet. While most matches will take place at LoL Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Rounds 1 and 2 will also feature two road trips for fans to enjoy.

First, from April 24 to 26, fans will be able to travel to Inspire Arena in Yeongjongdo, Incheon, for the T1 Homeground, featuring matches against and . In another first for the LCK, the recently rebranded will also bring the competition abroad to the Vietnam Exposition Center in Hanoi, where the team will face and .

Beyond these road trips, plenty of exciting matches are set to take place at LoL Park as well. According to Riot, the LCK will continue to emphasize its “Saturday Showdown” program, highlighting some of the most anticipated matchups of the week. In the opening week, fans will be treated to versus —a compelling clash between former players and the current roster—which won 2–1 during the LCK Cup. Most notably, opening day will also feature the legendary Telecom War between and , a rematch of the 2025 World Championship Final.

Another key date is Wednesday, April 8, which will spotlight two major AD carry matchups. Fans will witness, for the first time, ’s and ’s —two former AD carries who shared the starting role early last year—facing off in official LCK or international competition. Immediately after, will take on , capping off a packed early-season schedule. This match will also introduce another storyline, as ’s faces ’s for the first time, after the two teams surprisingly did not meet during the LCK Cup.

In Week 3, will face , the 2025 LCK unified season champions. also claimed major international titles last year, including the Mid-Season Invitational and the Esports World Cup, and have continued to assert their dominance by winning the LCK Cup this year. It remains to be seen how a retooled roster will fare against such a formidable opponent.

The LCK stands as Korea’s premier League of Legends competition, first launched in 2012, and remains one of the six major regions alongside North America, Brazil, Europe, China, and Asia-Pacific. Since 2025, the league has adopted a single-season format running from April to September, with 10 teams battling it out for the title.

Internationally, the LCK’s legacy is unmatched. Korean teams have lifted the World Championship trophy a record 10 times, firmly cementing the region’s dominance on the global stage. With an average of around 4 million daily viewers—more than half of them from overseas—the LCK continues to stand as one of esports’ most premium and widely followed products.