The second
League of Legends international event of the year,
Mid-Season International 2026, is set to begin on June 28 and will run through to July 12. The entire competition will take place at the Daejeon Convention Center II, in front of an 8,000-seat arena. This year’s winner will succeed
Gen.G, who claimed the title in both 2024 and 2025.
The tournament will be split into two stages: the Play-In and the Bracket Stage. The Play-In will feature four teams competing in a double-elimination format, with only one advancing to the main event. The Bracket Stage will then bring together eight teams — seven directly qualified and the Play-In winner — to compete in a full double-elimination bracket. Notably, the LPL has secured a direct spot in the Bracket Stage after
Bilibili Gaming’s victory at First Stand 2026, allowing the region to bypass the Play-In entirely.
All matches throughout the tournament will be played as best-of-five series, from the opening rounds of the Play-In to the MSI final. Beyond the title itself, the stakes are significant: the MSI champion will earn direct qualification for Worlds 2026, provided they also reach at least the playoffs in their regional Summer Split.
