EMEA Masters Spring expands to 28 teams, Solary and Karmine Corp Blue qualify

As first reported by Sheep Esports, Riot Games has officially unveiled a significant revamp of the EMEA Masters Spring Split 2026, expanding the tournament from 20 to 28 teams while introducing format changes aimed at improving competitive integrity and regional representation. The competition is set to take place from June 8 to June 15.

The update follows community feedback regarding ERL representation, with Riot opting to redistribute slots and adjust the Play-In structure without extending the overall duration of the event, maintaining a tightly packed competitive calendar.

The most immediate change comes with the expansion to 28 teams, allowing more regional leagues to be represented on the EMEA stage. As part of this redistribution, the LFL and Prime League stand out as the only two regions awarded three slots each, reinforcing their status as the strongest ecosystems in Europe. All other ERLs will receive two slots.

In France, and have already secured qualification for at least the Play-In stage, as both teams are guaranteed to finish in the top three of the LFL Spring Split. Elsewhere, (Turkey) and (MENA) have qualified directly for the Main Event, while , , GOAL, , and are guaranteed at least a place in the Play-In stage.

Riot has introduced a revamped Play-In structure while keeping the Main Event largely unchanged, aiming to improve competitive integrity without extending the tournament. The Play-In will now feature 16 teams competing in a five-round Swiss format, with all matches played as best-of-one. Teams reaching three wins advance, while three losses result in elimination.

The qualified teams will then move on to a Qualification Round consisting of four best-of-three series, with the winners securing the final spots in the Main Event. This adjustment is designed to reduce the impact of single matchups and increase consistency in qualification.

The Main Event will feature 16 teams—12 directly qualified and four from Play-Ins—starting with a GSL-style group stage (BO3), followed by an eight-team single-elimination playoff bracket (BO5). Overall, Riot aims to balance broader access to the tournament with a more reliable and competitive format.

Overall, the changes have been met with a very positive reception—and understandably so, as they come in direct response to criticism of the Winter Split format, showing Riot Games’ willingness to listen to the community. That said, the update does take away some of the competitive hype.

For the second time this year, Solary found out they had qualified for what will be their second EMEA Masters appearance via X—exactly the same way they did during the Winter Split.

César “” Hugues, Solary’s Head of LoL, reacted on X by expressing his excitement at the opportunity for his team to defend the title they secured during the Winter split. However, this change also takes some of the hype away from the first high-stakes best-of-five between Solary and Karmine Corp Blue in the LFL. Indeed the matchup, fueled by a strong rivalry, is highly anticipated by both fanbases.