LCK announced that its viewership metrics have doubled six years after introducing the franchise system. Riot Games, the organizer of League of Legends Champions Korea, released the viewership data for the 2026 LCK, which ran from its opening on April 1 to the Grand Finals on September 13.
Average Minute Audience Surpasses 700K
The most notable statistic in the 2026 LCK viewership report is the Average Minute Audience. For the first time since the league began tracking the metric, the AMA surpassed 700,000, setting a new all-time record and marking a 13% increase compared to last year. This figure more than doubles the numbers from 2021, when the LCK first adopted the franchise model. The league's AMA recorded 326,000 in 2021 and reached 714,000 this year.
Peak Concurrent Users for the 2026 LCK Grand Finals also trended upward. Despite featuring the same matchup between Gen.G and Hanwha Life Esports as last year, the final saw a 24% increase in PCU.
Securing a Stable Audience Despite Broadcasting Shifts
Ahead of the 2026 season, LCK announced that
Naver CHZZK and
SOOP secured broadcasting rights for the next five years, moving the official broadcast exclusively to the two platforms rather than the existing YouTube channel. After acquiring the broadcast rights, both CHZZK and SOOP invested heavily in co-streaming infrastructure while opening up opportunities for new streamers, which helped stabilize viewership metrics throughout the season.
Multiple Factors Driving Growth
Global viewership also saw a marked rise. LCK, which has offered broadcasts in multiple languages including English, Chinese, and Vietnamese since franchising, saw its overseas AMA jump 20% year-over-year. International viewers accounted for over 500,000 of the total AMA, representing more than 70% of the entire audience. LCK actively expanded touchpoints with Asian fans through events like hosting
LCK Cup in Hong Kong and
Kiwoom DRX's roadshow in Vietnam.
The single-season format introduced in 2025, which crowns one champion per year, has also firmly taken root. Rivalry matches consistently maintained strong engagement, surpassing 1 million AMA even during the regular season. Furthermore, the split into distinct groups during Rounds 3 and 4 led to a series of huge clashes between top-tier teams, driving major growth in viewership. This momentum carried naturally into marquee events such as the Road to MSI, LCK Play-In, and the Playoffs.
"Behind the LCK's record-breaking milestone of surpassing 700,000 AMA in 2026 lies the continued affection and interest shown by our fans," said LCK Comissioner Lee Jeong-hoon. "Together with our ten teams, LCK will continue to do its utmost to achieve our vision of becoming a global premium content that spans generations."
