The 2026 League of Legends EMEA season is set to begin in style, with Riot Games officially unveiling LEC Versus – The EMEA Invitational, a brand new tournament designed to shake things up right from day one. Featuring never before seen matchups, a fast paced format, and a clear path to international competition, LEC Versus starts on 17 January 2026 and promises an explosive opening to the year.

https://t.co/FpCTG4aNaG

— LEC (@LEC) December 16, 2025

Here’s everything you need to know about the teams, format, schedule, tickets, and where to watch.

What is LEC Versus?

LEC Versus is a new 12 team invitational tournament that opens the 2026 LEC season. Alongside all ten partnered LEC teams, Riot Games has invited two EMEA Regional League teams, Los Ratones and Karmine Corp Blue, giving tier two squads a rare chance to test themselves against Europe’s best.

With its own identity, unique trophy, and a compact, high intensity structure, LEC Versus is designed to deliver constant action in the lead up to the season’s first international event, First Stand.

All teams competing at LEC Versus 2026

The tournament brings together a full mix of established giants and hungry challengers.

LEC teams

• G2 Esports
• Fnatic
• Movistar KOI
• Shifters, formerly Team BDS
• Team Heretics
• SK Gaming
• Team Vitality
• Natus Vincere
• Karmine Corp
• GIANTX

ERL guest teams

• Los Ratones
• Karmine Corp Blue

For Los Ratones and Karmine Corp Blue, this is their only opportunity to face every LEC roster on a tier one stage, making every match count.

Image Credit: Riot Games

LEC Versus format explained

Single round robin stage

LEC Versus begins on January 17 with a single round robin of best of one matches, where every team plays each other once. This format allows fans to see every possible matchup, while keeping the schedule tight ahead of First Stand.

Each game day will feature six matches, the highest daily match count ever seen in the LEC. With new rosters across the league, teams will be under immediate pressure to adapt, opening the door for surprise upsets and early rivalries.

Playoffs and qualification

After four weeks of round robin play, the top eight teams advance to the playoffs.

The playoff stage uses a double elimination bracket:

• Rounds 1 and 2 are best of threes
• All remaining matches are best of fives

Only one team will emerge as champion and claim EMEA’s sole spot at First Stand, the first international tournament of the 2026 season, set to take place in São Paulo, Brazil.

Image Credit: Riot Games

Match times and venue

All matches will be played live at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, with every match day starting at 17:00 CET, whether it’s the group stage or playoffs.

Fans attending in person can expect fast moving match days packed with back to back games and constant action.

LEC Versus ticket information

Tickets for the opening phase of the tournament go on sale very soon.

• Weeks 1 to 4 tickets
  • On sale: December 17 at 18:00 CET
  • Price: €15 per day
• Playoff tickets
  • Upper Bracket Round 1: January 5
  • Additional batches: January 12

Tickets can be purchased through the official EMEA ticketing platform. Availability is limited, so fans planning to attend live are encouraged to act quickly.

Image Credit: Riot Games

Where to watch LEC Versus online

If you can’t make it to Berlin, every match of LEC Versus will be streamed live on the official LEC Twitch and YouTube channels, with full broadcasts, replays, and highlights available throughout the event.

HyperX joins as official peripherals partner

Riot Games has also confirmed HyperX as the official peripherals partner for LEC Versus. The partnership brings HyperX’s high performance gaming gear to the LEC stage, joining an established lineup of sponsors that includes Red Bull, Kia, KitKat, and LG UltraGear.

A fast, chaotic start to the 2026 LEC season

With fresh rosters, cross tier matchups, and international qualification on the line, LEC Versus is shaping up to be one of the most exciting season openers the LEC has ever seen. From day one, teams will be fighting for momentum, pride, and a chance to represent EMEA on the global stage.

Whether you’re watching from home or attending live, LEC Versus looks set to deliver a thrilling start to competitive League of Legends in 2026.

The post LEC Versus kicks off 2026 with new format, ERL guests, and ticket details revealed appeared first on Shane the Gamer.