The Nova Series set to return in the second half of 2026

The 2026 season of the women’s League of Legends scene has finally received its first calendar update. This Thursday, Riot Games France and ZQSD Productions announced that the Nova Series, a competition exclusively reserved for women, will return for a second edition in the second half of 2026. The event “should take place in a format close to that of the first edition,” the organizers specified in a dedicated Discord server. “We will come back to you very soon with detailed information, including a calendar, so that you can plan accordingly,” ZQSD added.

The Nova Series was the most recent tournament introduced to energize the women’s scene. The competition debuted between November and December last year under the name Nova Series: Prélude. Structured around two open qualifiers followed by a four-team playoff stage, the inaugural edition was ultimately won by G2 Hel, the team of , who also served as the tournament’s ambassador.

However, the Samurais will in all likelihood not be present to defend their title. The most prominent women’s team on the continent disbanded shortly after their victory, on December 19. CEO Alban Dechelotte nonetheless left the door open to a potential return of the women’s roster should the organization secure a dedicated sponsor—an announcement of an upcoming tournament could naturally facilitate such a development. Since the conclusion of the Nova Series last autumn, the women’s competitive scene has entered a relatively subdued period.

The breakup of the region’s strongest roster did not bode well, and in recent weeks players have been waiting for the announcement of a dedicated competitive format. In 2025, Riot Games launched Game Changers Rising for League of Legends, though the format was considerably less ambitious than the ecosystem that continues to thrive in VALORANT. While its beginnings were modest and drew criticism, the initiative was nevertheless intended as the first step in a longer-term project—one that now appears to have stalled once again.

Although the future of Game Changers in League of Legends remains highly uncertain, the organizers of the Nova Series—an initiative independent from the Game Changers —had already expressed their intention last autumn to establish the tournament as a recurring fixture. “Our vision is not merely to add a one-off event, but to establish a lasting fixture for the French women’s League of Legends scene,” explained Nicolas Di Martino, President of ZQSD Productions, at the time.

While the Nova Series originate from French stakeholders, the competition remains open to players of all nationalities. The French scene has also allowed some teams to maintain competitive activity at the start of 2026. Two “Game Changers” teams were invited to participate in the LFL Invitational: Rising Bees, the women’s team of , and , a roster assembled under the initiative of French personalities Camille “Yume” Laisné and Antonella "Aloonea" Maria Tarantino, which included Colomblbl. However, neither team managed to secure a victory, both exiting the competition after losing two BO1 matches.

The announcement of the Nova Series therefore provides a degree of reassurance for the women’s scene, which will not be left without dedicated tournaments this year. Players are also awaiting announcement of the Equal Esport Cup 2026, as the event has established itself since 2023 as one of the key dates in the ecosystem’s competitive calendar.