The Winter Split is disappearing, making way for LEC Versus — a new tournament where, for the first time in the LEC era, 12 teams will compete for a spot at an international event, the First Stand.
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The LEC Versus will see the two Karmine Corp's teams facing each other on January 17. Credit: Riot Games
The competition will run from January 17 to March 1
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As announced by Riot Games on October 23, the Winter Split of the LEC will be replaced by the LEC Versus in 2026. This tournament is an experimental event debuting on January 17, 2026, and running through March 1. It’s designed to shake up the scene by inviting two ERL teams to compete alongside the regular ten LEC organizations, giving rising squads a chance to prove themselves against the best.
More than a short-term experiment, the LEC Versus is a trial run for the league’s future structure. Allowing top ERL teams to compete directly with LEC lineups could boost regional competitiveness and bring fresh storylines for fans. Every Bo1 match will count, making the regular season unpredictable and highly watchable.
Format and Schedule
As usual, LEC Versus will be split into two parts — a Regular Season and Playoffs. All matches will played at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany.
The regular season will feature six Best-of-One matches per day. Credit: Riot Games.
Regular Season:
Dates: January 17 – February 8
Format: Single round robin, Best-of-One matches
Each team plays 11 matches; top 8 advance to Playoffs.
Twelve teams will compete — ten from the LEC plus two invites from the regional circuit which have won the three 2025 EMEA Masters:
LEC teams: Fnatic, G2 Esports, GIANTX, Karmine Corp, Movistar KOI, Team Vitality, SK Gaming, Team Heretics, Shifters (formerly Team BDS), Natus Vincere.
Invited ERL teams: Los Ratones and Karmine Corp Blue.
Twelve teams will face off for the first time in the LEC era. Credit: Riot Games.
Rosters across the board feature some big changes heading into the new year. G2 Esports, Movistar KOI and GIANTX kept their entire rosters while all the other teams made changes ahead of the 2026.
Riot Games will stream the inaugural event across multiple platforms, giving fans plenty of ways to follow the action live. Matches will be available on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok. In addition, several well-known community figures will co-stream games throughout the Split, offering their own take on the competition.
