LoL - LEC: Summer Split format won't return in 2026, LEC commissioner confirms

The LEC has faced heavy criticism throughout the Summer Split. Fans voiced frustration over both the competition format and schedule — as well did several players. This Friday, Artem Bykov, the LEC Commissioner, addressed the backlash directly, admitting the Summer format did not meet expectations and confirming it won't return next year.

When the Summer Split was introduced, organizers hoped to innovate by moving away from reliance on BO1 matches, which many fans had grown tired of. Instead, the format leaned into BO3, hoping to create more competitive and meaningful matchups. However, despite good intentions, the structure ultimately proved unpopular. Artem Bykov admitted: "Summer Split format didn’t land the way we hoped and we won’t bring it back next year. We’re also looking for ways to increase the number of competition days across the whole year in 2026.”

Beyond format issues, scheduling proved to be another significant challenge. Games in Summer split were played on different days almost every week, and the breaks between playoffs matches and regular season was far too long, risking losing viewers and curtailing team momentum. All of these changes may have been to blame for lower viewership this year, hurting the league's image long-term. Bykov specifically called out pain points of the current format: "Monday and Tuesday weren’t fun for anyone, and while only 4 out of 23 LEC weeks this year are impacted by the VCT overlap, the few weeks in summer made the split feel off so far."

Despite the setbacks, the LEC is already looking to the future. While no specific details have been shared yet, fans can expect updates in the weeks following the 2025 Summer Split. The league's Commissioner also expressed an interest in engaging more directly with its community through quick AMAs and open conversations on social media.

This public acknowledgment of their mistakes proves the LEC sees this as a learning opportunity, which some see as an encouraging sign in a league that has, historically, been willing to experiment with formats and structures.