LoL: KeSPA opens host city bidding for MSI 2026 in South Korea
KeSPA and Riot Games seek a host city for MSI 2026 and the Road to MSI. Cities must apply by mid-September 2025, meeting venue, hotel, and support criteria.
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MSI 2022 Busan Grand Finals T1-RNG
South Korea opens bidding for MSI
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On Monday, the South Korean esports federation, KeSPA, has issued a call for applications to find the host city for the 2026League of LegendsMid-Season Invitational (MSI). The announcement also includes the provisional dates for the competition, set for June 26 to July 12, 2026, as well as the dates for the "Road to MSI" tournament, from June 6 to June 14, 2026. In addition to hosting the MSI, Riot Games is also looking for a host city for the qualifier tournament.
KeSPA has stated that municipalities interested in hosting both events will be given a bonus in the selection process, which will conclude in November 2025 when the host city is announced—an announcement that will likely coincide with the World Championship (Worlds). In addition to having a venue that can accommodate between 3,000 and 5,000 spectators, the South Korean esports authority requires the presence of four-star (or higher) hotels nearby, with at least 500 rooms available in the surrounding area.
Host City Selection and Competition Operation Plan. Credit: KeSPA
Since the dates are not yet confirmed, the venue must be available for a full month—from June 16 to July 16—to allow time for setup and teardown of the stage and other broadcasting-related structures. Ideally, the entire competition should be held in a single location. Throughout the tournament, KeSPA expects an attendance of between 45,000 and 75,000 visitors, with an additional 15,000 spectators for the Road to MSI.
Busan and Seoul, the two main destinations
Alongside these requirements, municipalities must present a solid provisional budget, including financial or in-kind support (such as venue access, accommodations, transportation), and detail how they plan to incorporate entertainment and events around the tournament to maximize tourism and economic impact.
South Korea has only served as the stage for the Mid-Season Invitational once, back in 2022. That year, the event unfolded in the southeastern city of Busan, where Royal Never Give Up triumphed over T1. With that victory, RNG became the second team in MSI history to win back-to-back titles, a feat first achieved by T1 in 2016 and 2017. Gen.G would later match this rare accomplishment in 2025, and now prepares to defend its consecutive titles in front of a home crowd.
Although MSI has rarely taken place in South Korea, the nation has welcomed the World Championship on three separate occasions: 2014, 2018, and 2023. Each of these editions was distributed across multiple host cities. Busan played a part in all three, just as it did for MSI 2022, just like Seoul, the capital and venue for the 2025 First Stand. Gwangju and Incheon joined the list of host cities during the 2018 tournament. South Korea is scheduled to host Worlds for a fourth time in 2027.
