LoL 2026 First Stand Tournament Schedules and More
By Barry on Feb 15th, 2026, 06:02
The second edition of the First Stand Tournament is almost here, and it's already shaping up to be a completely different beast from its 2025 predecessor.
Last year in Seoul, Hanwha Life Esports steamrolled through a five-team field with minimal resistance, took the title over Karmine Corp 3–1, and left fans wondering whether the format had enough teeth. Riot clearly heard the feedback.
This time around, we're getting eight teams, every single match played as a best-of-five, and a draft format that punishes shallow champion pools. If you're a competitive player trying to learn from the best, or just a fan who wants to watch high-level League without any filler matches, this is the official event to circle on your calendar.
Here's everything you need to know.
The tournament runs March 16 to 22, 2026, in São Paulo, Brazil, at the Riot Games Arena São Paulo (Av. Thomas Edison, 849, Barra Funda). This makes it only the second international League of Legends event ever hosted in Brazil. The first was MSI 2017, almost a decade ago.
São Paulo is a deliberate choice. Brazil's League community is one of the most passionate in the world, and CBLOL's return as an independent league in 2026 adds a layer of regional pride that wasn't part of the equation last year.
Eight teams are split into two groups of four. Each group runs a GSL-style double-elimination bracket, meaning every team gets at least two series before they're out. The top two teams from each group advance; the bottom two go home. Every match is a best-of-five.
That last part is crucial. In a Bo5, you can't hide behind a single cheese comp or a lucky early game. Teams have to adapt in real time, such as reading the opponent's adjustments, expanding their champion pools, and executing under mounting pressure. If you're a player working on your own ranked climb, pay close attention to how teams shift their drafts between games within a series. That's where the real coaching material lives.
The four teams that survive groups enter a single-elimination bracket: two semifinals and a final, all best-of-five. Straightforward, high-pressure, no safety net.
Every series uses Hard Fearless Draft. Once a champion is picked by either team in a game, that champion is locked out for the rest of the series. Not just for the team that picked it, for both sides.
This is a goldmine for anyone studying competitive League. Fearless Draft forces teams to go deep into their champion pools by the later games of a series. You'll see unconventional picks, creative flex strategies, and drafting creativity that standard tournament formats simply don't produce. If you're a coach or an aspiring one, these games are required viewing.
Exact match times and opponents will be finalized as regional qualifiers wrap up. For live, updated schedules, keep an eye on Leaguepedia and Liquipedia. They update continuously as matchups are confirmed.
Eight teams qualify based on regional performance:
| Region | Slots | How They Qualify |
|---|---|---|
| LCK (Korea) | 2 | Split finalists |
| LPL (China) | 2 | Split finalists |
| LEC (EMEA) | 1 | Split winner |
| LCS (North America) | 1 | Split winner |
| CBLOL (Brazil) | 1 | Split winner |
| LCP (Pacific) | 1 | Split winner |
The jump from five to eight teams is significant. Last year, only split winners attended: one team per region (with the LTA representing both NA and Brazil). Now the LCK and LPL each send two teams, and CBLOL and LCS return as separate entities after the LTA was discontinued.
One storyline worth watching: Hanwha Life Esports, the defending champions, failed to qualify after being eliminated in the LCK Cup group stage. Whatever team takes the trophy in São Paulo will be a first-time First Stand champion.
Winning First Stand brings more benefits than the trophy itself. The champion's entire region benefits: both of that region's MSI 2026 representatives earn automatic byes into the Mid-Season Invitational Bracket Stage, skipping Play-Ins entirely.
That's a massive competitive advantage. Skipping Play-Ins means more preparation time, less stage fatigue, and a direct path into the bracket where the real title contention begins. For LCK and LPL teams, especially those that already send two representatives, this is a compelling reason to bring their absolute best to São Paulo.
Tickets are available through Riot's official channels, promoted via LoL Esports and LEC Esports social accounts, which link to the Riot Games Arena São Paulo sales page.
For a rough price benchmark, the 2025 First Stand in Seoul priced weekday tickets around 29 USD and weekend tickets around 37 USD. São Paulo pricing may differ, but it gives you a general idea of Riot's ballpark for these events.
A few practical notes if you're planning to attend:
Fearless Draft reveals true champion mastery. When comfort picks get banned out by the format itself, you see which players can actually perform on a wide pool and which ones fall off a cliff. Take notes on which champions show up in games four and five, as those are the sleeper picks that might define the next patch cycle in solo queue.
Bo5 adaptation is a masterclass in real-time coaching. Watch how teams adjust between games. Do they switch up their lane assignments? Change their jungle pathing? Shift from early-game aggression to scaling? These mid-series pivots are the closest thing you'll get to watching a coaching session play out live.
International meta reads. LCK, LPL, LEC, LCS, CBLOL, and LCP all bring different regional playstyles. First Stand is the earliest point in the season where these styles collide, and the results often preview which approaches will dominate the rest of the year.
First Stand 2026 is a genuine upgrade over last year's edition. More teams, deeper matches, Fearless Draft across the board, and real MSI implications that give every game weight. Whether you're planning to watch from home, fly to São Paulo, or study the VODs for your next coaching session, March 16–22 is the week to block off.
