2026 Spring EMEA Masters set to run shortened format

The 2026 EMEA Masters Spring Edition is set to feature a lighter, shorter format this time around. The change will stem directly from the extended format used for the tournament’s 2026 Winter Edition, which ran until April 21—well after the start of Split 2 for most ERLs—and culminated in two teams earning the chance to face LEC squads for qualification to the Esports World Cup, whose qualifier runs through May 17.

Reminiscent of the 2025 Winter Edition, the second EMEA Masters of 2026 will feature a noticeably streamlined format, alongside a number of smaller adjustments. As was the case back then, one of the main drawbacks of the new structure is its significantly reduced duration. Much like Winter 2025, the Spring 2026 edition will be played over just seven days, with teams competing without pause from June 8 to June 14—down from the 18-day span of last year’s Spring Edition.

Slightly different from the past edition the tournament bases itself on, this year’s Spring will feature a total of 20 teams, 4 of which will be eliminated on day one. Indeed, the format this time has been tweaked to feature a short play-in stage, where 8 teams will be paired in four matches, where they will compete in a single best-of-three match to qualify to the main event.

Aside from the new Play-In stage, which will determine the final four participants on Day 1, the remainder of Spring 2026 will follow the same structure as Winter 2025. This means the 16 remaining teams will be divided into four groups of four in a GSL-style double-elimination format, played in best-of-three series. The top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs.

In the final stage, the remaining eight teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket, with all matches played as best-of-fives. The playoffs will crown the Spring champions between June 12 and June 14. Across the entire event, teams will need to lock in from the outset, as the compressed format leaves little room for adaptation for those aiming to rise to the top of the EMEA Tier 2 circuit.

As a reminder, each EMEA Masters event is expected to count towards qualification for the 2027 LEC Versus, though the exact manner in which Riot will reward teams—and the weight of each tournament—has not yet been made public. Earlier this year, Los Ratones notably received a spot for the first LEC split of the year due to their “EM 2025 Performance”, after winning the first two editions of the year’s EMEA Masters, even if the exact point system and qualification path were never disclosed.