The
LCK Cup 2026 will begin on
January 14 and will see the ten Korean teams divided into two groups: a Baron Group featuring
Gen.G,
T1,
Nongshim RedForce,
DN SOOPers, and
HANJIN BRION, while the Elder Group consists of
Hanwha Life Esports,
Dplus KIA,
KT Rolster,
BNK FearX, and
DRX.
The groups were formed through a draft. As the 2025 LCK champions, Gen.G had the first pick and chose T1 to join their group. HLE then selected DK, who in turn picked KT. Back to the Baron Group, T1 chose NS, who then picked DNS. Switching to the Elder Group, Go “Score” Dong-bin, KT's head coach, selected BFX, followed by DNS choosing BRO. The only team left, DRX, was therefore placed in the Elder Group.
The cross-group format
Teams will face each team from the opposite group once. The group with the highest point total will be named the “Winners Group,” while the other becomes the “Losers Group.” The top two teams from the Winners Group, along with the top team from the Losers Group, will advance directly to the Playoffs.
The bottom three teams from the Winners Group, together with the second- to fourth-place teams from the Losers Group, will move on to the Play-In stage, while the last-place team in the Losers Group will be eliminated. A best-of-three victory earns one point, and a best-of-five win during “Super Week” counts for two points.
Coach communications will be allowed throughout the competition. The format this year also seems more favorable than last year’s: previously, the top team from the Losers Group, T1, still had to go through the Play-In stage despite finishing the group stage with a 4-1 record.
This year, both the winner and the runner-up will participate in First Stand, whereas last year only Hanwha Life qualified for the inaugural edition. The group stage will run from January 14 to February 1, the Play-In stage from February 6 to 8, and the Playoffs will begin on February 12, continuing until March 1.
The Schedule
As usual, LCK weeks will run from Wednesday to Sunday, opening with KT vs. DNS and DK vs. BRO. The first major matchup comes on the 16th with T1 facing HLE. The third week will feature a Super Week in a best-of-five format, including Gen.G vs. HLE, T1 vs. DK, NS vs. KT, DNS vs. BFX, and BRO vs. DRX.
