League of Legends Classic will end its current run on January 6, 2027, Riot Games has confirmed. The decision comes as player activity declines, prompting regional matchmaking restrictions, refunds for eligible cosmetics and a completely free Season 3 Act II Classic Battle Pass.
In an October 14, 2026 developer update, Riot's Meddler and Pabro explained that many players who initially returned for Classic's nostalgic gameplay have since moved back to modern League of Legends.
Riot is not abandoning the idea of Classic entirely. The studio hopes to bring it back in the future, potentially as a limited-time event with gameplay adjustments and additional content. For now, however, the current version has a confirmed end date, and several changes are coming before then.
When is League Classic shutting down?
League Classic is shutting down on January 6, 2027. Riot confirmed the end of its current run in the October 14 developer announcement, with the exact date specified in its updated player support documentation. The developer wants Classic to return eventually, but has not announced when that might happen.
The decision marks a significant change for the nostalgic game mode, which launched on July 29, 2026. Built around early League gameplay, Classic brought back old champion abilities, items, runes, masteries and the original-style Summoner's Rift experience.
While the initial response brought players back to systems that had disappeared from modern League, Riot says participation has fallen as much of that audience returned to other modes.
Lower player activity has created matchmaking problems in some regions, including longer queue times and larger differences in matchmaking rating (MMR) between players in the same lobby.
According to Riot's official League Classic developer announcement, the team will review what worked during the mode's first run, where it should have recreated older League more faithfully, and which historical systems may need changes in a future version.
League Classic queue changes: All affected regions and times
One of the biggest immediate changes is the introduction of scheduled matchmaking windows in regions where Classic activity has dropped particularly sharply.
Starting with Patch 26.21, scheduled for October 21, 2026, nine regional server groups will only offer regular Classic matchmaking during designated hours. Japan and the Middle East server will move to custom matches only.
Riot has confirmed the following League Classic queue schedule:
| Region or server | Monday to Friday | Saturday and Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Korea (KR) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Latin America North (LAN) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Latin America South (LAS) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Taiwan (TW) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Vietnam (VN) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Turkey (TR) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Southeast Asia (SEA) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Oceania (OCE) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Russia (RU) | 4 PM to midnight | 10 AM to 1 AM |
| Japan (JP1) | Custom matches only | Custom matches only |
| Middle East (ME1) | Custom matches only | Custom matches only |
For the nine regions receiving limited hours, weekday matchmaking will open at 4 PM and run until midnight. Weekend queues will have a longer window, opening at 10 AM and remaining available until 1 AM the following day.
Players on JP1 and ME1 will no longer have access to regular Classic matchmaking once the changes take effect. They will still be able to organize private games through custom lobbies.
Classic custom games will remain available at all times in every region during the mode's remaining run. That distinction matters for groups who want to keep playing together outside scheduled matchmaking hours.
Riot has not announced equivalent restrictions for every other server. Players should check the upcoming patch notes for additional regional changes or adjustments to the announced windows.
League Classic Season 3 Act II Battle Pass will be completely free
Riot is also removing the premium track from the Season 3 Act II Classic Battle Pass. Unlike Act I, the new pass will have one unified free track, allowing everyone to unlock its available rewards without purchasing an upgrade.
The change is especially relevant for players who want to complete their remaining Classic progression without spending additional RP on content tied to a mode that will close in January.
Classic Act II Battle Pass dates
Riot's updated support schedule lists the following dates:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 20, 2026 | Classic Pass Act II scheduled to begin at 11 AM PT |
| October 21, 2026 | Scheduled release of Patch 26.21 |
| January 4, 2027 | Classic Pass progression ends at 11:59 PM PT |
| January 5, 2027 | Classic Pass deactivates at 11:59 PM PT |
| January 6, 2027 | Final date of League Classic availability |
There is a small scheduling difference worth noting. Riot's support documentation lists October 20 as the pass start date, while the developer update associates its rollout with Patch 26.21, scheduled for October 21. The in-game schedule and upcoming patch notes should clarify the exact release timing.
All dates remain subject to change.
All six Classic Pass Act II reward tiers
The new pass retains Classic's six-tier progression system. Players earn Classic Pass Coins through missions and use them to claim rewards, with a minimum of 125 coins spent within a tier required to advance to the next one.
Here is the complete reward overview, including the Classic Pass Coin cost of each item:
| Tier | Rewards and coin costs |
|---|---|
| 1 | Random Champion (70), Classic Graves Icon (30), Heart of Gold Title (80), Smokescreen Emote (50) |
| 2 | Classic Galio Icon (60), Teleggport Emote (30), 10 Random Skinned Runes (40) |
| 3 | Rune Page (50), Classic Caitlyn Icon (60), Better Nerf Irelia Title (35) |
| 4 | Classic Fiora Icon (60), 10 Random Skinned Runes (40), Classic Baron Emote (50) |
| 5 | Random Champion (60), Classic Poppy Icon (70), Runs on a Potato Emote (30), SMITE! Icon (20) |
| 6 | Random Skin valued at 520 to 1,350 RP (200), Singed Portrait (60), 10 Random Skinned Runes (40) |
Players who already own every champion released through Patch 26.20 will receive 1,000 Blue Essence instead of the random champion reward where applicable.
One notable addition is Random Skinned Runes. These change the visual appearance of equipped Classic runes without affecting their gameplay statistics or bonuses.
Riot Games confirms League Classic refunds for eligible purchases
With League Classic's current run ending in January, Riot will refund certain Classic-exclusive cosmetics that players will no longer be able to use.
The amount and method depend on how the content was originally obtained. Some refunds will happen automatically, while other options require contacting Riot Player Support within a limited period.
Which League Classic purchases are eligible for refunds?
| Content | Refund details |
|---|---|
| Classic Portraits purchased directly from the store | Full RP amount originally spent, expected by November 30, 2026 |
| Classic Portraits obtained through the paid Act I Pass | 200 RP per acquired portrait, expected by November 30, 2026 |
| Resplendent Explorer Ezreal Portrait from the Classic Welcome Bundle | 2,000 RP, expected by November 30, 2026 |
| Classic Portraits in the Collector's Box | RP refund for the portion of the purchase attributable to the portraits, expected by November 30, 2026 |
| Eligible Classic Chromas | RP refunds for qualifying purchases, including specified Founder chromas from eligible bundles |
Riot says refunds for Classic-only cosmetics will begin from 30 days after the October 14 notice, with the specified portrait reimbursements expected by November 30.
Players who purchased the Act I Classic Pass directly with money can request a refund to their original payment method instead of the standard RP compensation. That request must be made through Player Support within 30 days of the announcement.
Separate options also apply to eligible Collector's Box purchases. Riot says players who want to keep the physical Collector's Box can request removal of its digital content and a 12,212 RP refund. Those considering an alternative refund method should contact support within the specified 30-day window.
The chroma refunds include eligible individually purchased Classic Chromas, along with the Classic Annie (Founder's Goth) and Classic Alistar (Founder's Black) Chromas from specified bundles.
These reimbursements do not mean every League Classic purchase is automatically eligible. Riot's policy specifically addresses qualifying Classic-exclusive content, with different conditions for different purchase types.
Full eligibility requirements are available in the official League Classic Pass and Content support guide. Players who need account-specific assistance can submit a request through Riot Games Player Support.
League Classic is still getting more champions before January
Despite the shutdown announcement, Riot is continuing its planned champion releases through Patch 26.23.
Patch 26.20 introduced five returning champions on October 7:
- Aatrox
- Caitlyn
- Irelia
- Karma
- Quinn
Patch 26.21, currently scheduled for October 21, will add another four champions:
- Mordekaiser
- Yorick
- Hecarim
- Lucian
More additions are planned in subsequent patches through 26.23, which Riot currently has scheduled for November 18.
Among the confirmed upcoming names are Volibear, Urgot and Udyr. These three champions finished in the top positions of Riot's latest Council poll, which allows eligible Classic players to help influence future content decisions.
The continued releases mean Classic's remaining months will not simply be a maintenance period. Players will still have new combinations of older champion kits to experiment with before the mode closes.
Exact release assignments for every remaining champion have not been confirmed. Further changes should appear in Riot's patch notes and ongoing League of Legends news coverage.
The League Classic store is losing most of its content
Patch 26.21 will also reduce what players can purchase through the dedicated Classic store.
Once the update arrives, the store will only offer three categories:
- Champions: Available through Blue Essence or RP, with existing champion ownership carrying over to Classic.
- Runes: Used to customize champion statistics and early-game strengths.
- Rune Pages: Used to save and select different rune setups, with additional pages obtainable through progression or Influence Points.
Classic-exclusive cosmetic purchases will no longer be part of the store's available selection under the announced changes.
The smaller catalog is consistent with Riot's decision to stop selling certain cosmetics tied exclusively to a temporary experience. It also gives players clearer expectations about which purchases remain available during Classic's final months.
Why League Classic is ending after less than six months
League Classic launched in July as Riot's attempt to bring back the gameplay identity of early League of Legends. Rather than recreating a single historical patch, the mode uses Season 3 as its main reference point while incorporating selected features from several early eras.
It began with 60 champions and brought back older abilities, legacy items such as Atma's Impaler and Frozen Mallet, original-style runes and masteries, and historical Summoner's Rift mechanics.
Its appeal was not limited to nostalgia. Classic also offered a different pace of combat from modern League, with older champion strengths and weaknesses, slower mobility in many kits, and the resource management associated with earlier versions of the game.
Another defining feature was the Council, a player voting system designed to give the community a say in which champions, items and gameplay elements would return.
However, maintaining an active audience for a separate version of League appears to have become difficult once the initial excitement faded.
Riot has not published specific participation figures in its October 14 announcement, so the scale of the decline remains unclear. What the developer has confirmed is that migration back to other League modes has become significant enough to affect matchmaking quality in some regions.
For a multiplayer mode that relies on reasonably balanced lobbies, a shrinking matchmaking pool can create a difficult cycle. Longer waits make it harder to find suitable opponents, particularly at less populated skill levels.
Riot's regional queue windows appear intended to concentrate the remaining population into busier periods, although the developer has not provided estimates of how much matchmaking times will improve.
Will League Classic return after January 2027?
Riot wants League Classic to return, but the developer has not committed to a timeline or finalized how the next version will work.
The most likely direction discussed so far is a limited-time event mode, with changes informed by what the team learned during Classic's first run.
There are several areas Riot specifically wants to examine: which older gameplay systems were successfully recreated, which features should have been closer to their historical versions, and where retaining old mechanics may have limited the experience.
A shorter event could potentially bring more players into the same matchmaking pool at once, rather than requiring Classic to maintain a consistent population throughout an entire season. That remains a possible benefit of an event-based format, not a confirmed plan or promised outcome.
Questions also remain about future champion availability, progression, cosmetic content and whether a returning version would preserve anything earned during the current run. Riot has not provided firm answers to those questions.
For now, the official League of Legends Classic website remains the central destination for information about the mode and its existing gameplay features.
What League Classic players should do before shutdown
There are still several months available, but the remaining schedule contains a few deadlines worth tracking.
- Check your server's matchmaking hours: Players in affected regions should plan around the scheduled queues arriving with Patch 26.21.
- Review eligible purchases: Check whether any Classic-only portraits, chromas or bundle purchases qualify for refunds, especially where a Player Support request is required within 30 days.
- Finish Classic Pass missions: The Act II progression period is scheduled to close on January 4, 2027, before the pass deactivates on January 5.
- Claim available rewards: Check the in-game pass for unclaimed items and use any remaining Classic Pass Coins before the relevant deadlines.
- Complete Classic Level progression: Riot recommends leveling up the separate Classic Account while the mode remains available.
- Watch for the final champion releases: Further additions are planned through Patch 26.23, including champions selected through Council voting.
Players who are particularly interested in Classic's future can also provide feedback about the systems they want preserved or changed. Riot has explicitly asked for that feedback as it evaluates how the experience might return.
Regional changes, reward adjustments and further announcements can be followed through upcoming League of Legends updates.
Frequently asked questions about League Classic
When does League Classic end?
League Classic ends its current run on January 6, 2027. Riot Games confirmed the date in its updated support documentation on October 14, 2026.
Is League Classic being permanently shut down?
No permanent cancellation of the Classic concept has been announced. Riot hopes to bring the mode back, potentially as a limited-time event, but has not confirmed a return date.
Why is Riot shutting down League Classic?
Riot says many players have returned to other League modes, reducing Classic's active matchmaking population. Some regions have experienced longer queue times and larger MMR differences as a result.
Which League Classic servers are getting restricted queues?
Korea, Latin America North, Latin America South, Taiwan, Vietnam, Turkey, Southeast Asia, Oceania and Russia will receive scheduled matchmaking hours. Japan (JP1) and the Middle East (ME1) will become custom-match-only regions.
Can I still play custom games in League Classic?
Yes. Riot has confirmed that Classic custom games will remain available around the clock in all regions during the mode's current run, including servers with restricted matchmaking.
Is the League Classic Act II Battle Pass free?
Yes. The Season 3 Act II Classic Pass has one completely free progression track. Players can earn Classic Pass Coins and unlock all six reward tiers without buying a premium pass.
Will Riot refund League Classic cosmetics?
Riot will refund eligible Classic-only cosmetics, including certain portraits and chromas. Compensation depends on the original purchase method, and some refund options require contacting Player Support within 30 days of the October 14 announcement.
Which champions are coming to League Classic before shutdown?
Mordekaiser, Yorick, Hecarim and Lucian are scheduled for Patch 26.21. Riot will continue releasing champions through Patch 26.23, including Volibear, Urgot and Udyr.
League Classic's final months will determine what comes next
League Classic's first run is nearing its end, but Riot is not closing the door on revisiting older League of Legends gameplay. The current experience will remain available until January 6, 2027, with regional matchmaking restrictions, a free Act II Battle Pass, refunds and more champion releases arriving before then.
The immediate priority for players is the October rollout, followed by the remaining champion updates and January progression deadlines. Anyone hoping to experience the classic version of Summoner's Rift should plan around those dates rather than assume the mode will remain accessible indefinitely.
Whether League Classic eventually becomes a recurring event or returns in another form remains undecided. Riot's next developer updates will be worth watching, particularly for details about what the team learned from this run and how those lessons could shape Classic's future.
