MSI 2026 guide: Dates, format, venue, tickets, teams, and how to watch

MSI 2026 runs from June 28 to July 12, 2026, at Daejeon Convention Center II in Daejeon, South Korea. The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational features 11 teams from LPL, LCK, LEC, LCS, LCP, and CBLOL, with a four-team Play-In Stage followed by an eight-team double-elimination Bracket Stage.

The tournament is Riot Games’ midyear international test, where the best teams from each region meet before the final road to Worlds begins. This year’s event uses the theme “Call Your Shot”, with regional rivalries, player storylines, live rewards, Pick’Ems, Crystal Ball, co-streaming, skin promotions, merchandise, and Fan Festa activities all built around the event.

MSI 2026 also matters for Worlds. The MSI champion earns a direct Worlds 2026 spot if it later reaches its domestic playoffs, while the second-best region at MSI earns an extra Worlds seed for its league. That means every best-of-five can affect more than the trophy in Daejeon.

MSI 2026 at a glance

For more League of Legends coverage around the event, follow our MSI hub, LoL esports coverage, League of Legends news, LoL updates, patch notes, LoL leaks, and LoL tournaments guide.

MSI 2026 schedule and start times

The MSI 2026 schedule is split into two stages. The Play-In Stage runs from June 28 to July 1. The Bracket Stage starts on July 3, continues through July 6, resumes on July 8, and ends with the Grand Final on July 12.

For European viewers, most early days begin at 5:00 am CEST or 10:00 am CEST. The Grand Final starts at 7:00 am CEST on July 12.

Use the official LoL Esports schedule for live match order, bracket updates, VODs, and broadcast links. The daily start times are confirmed, but later matchups will depend on Play-In results and bracket progression.

MSI 2026 qualified teams

Riot has now confirmed all 11 MSI 2026 teams. China, Korea, EMEA, North America, and Asia-Pacific each send two teams, while Brazil sends one team through CBLOL. You can follow the wider regional picture through RiftDaily’s hubs for LPL, LCK, LEC, LCS, LCP, and CBLOL.

The seven teams starting directly in the Bracket Stage are Bilibili Gaming, Top Esports, Hanwha Life Esports, G2 Esports, Team Secret Whales, LYON, and FURIA. The Play-In teams are T1, Karmine Corp, Revolve Deep Cross Gaming, and Team Liquid Alienware. For more background around rosters and organizations, you can also follow our LoL players and LoL teams sections.

That Play-In field is unusually spicy. T1 starting before the main bracket instantly raises the pressure, while Karmine Corp, Team Liquid Alienware, and Revolve Deep Cross Gaming all have a realistic reason to believe they can survive the opening stage.

How the MSI 2026 format works

The MSI 2026 format is similar to MSI 2025, but the Play-In Stage has changed. This year, Play-In is a four-team double-elimination bracket, and only one team advances to the Bracket Stage.

The Bracket Stage remains an eight-team double-elimination bracket. Seven teams start there automatically, and the final slot goes to the Play-In winner. Every series is best of five, so MSI is not a quick best-of-one form check. Teams need real draft depth, strong adaptation, and enough discipline to survive long series.

Why First Stand matters for MSI 2026 seeding

First Stand is not just a separate early-season international event. Riot tied it directly to MSI seeding, which means its result affects the next global tournament. The winning region receives a Bracket Stage bye for its second MSI seed.

For MSI 2026, that matters most for China. Because Bilibili Gaming won First Stand 2026 for the LPL, both Chinese MSI teams start directly in the Bracket Stage. That removes the risk of an early Play-In exit and gives the LPL more time to prepare for the main bracket.

For the other second seeds, the route is harsher. T1, Karmine Corp, Revolve Deep Cross Gaming, and Team Liquid Alienware have to play before the main bracket even begins. A strong team can still survive that route, but it means showing drafts earlier and taking on elimination pressure sooner.

Fearless Draft and First Selection could shape MSI 2026

MSI 2026 should also be watched through two important competitive systems: Fearless Draft and First Selection. Together, they make each best-of-five feel less like a comfort-pick contest and more like a full strategic series.

Fearless Draft changes how a series develops because champions picked earlier in the match become unavailable later in that same series. A team cannot simply rely on the same safe draft every game. Coaches have to think several games ahead, and players with deeper champion pools become more valuable.

That usually makes long series more interesting for viewers. A team that dominates Game 1 with a comfort composition may be forced into a different identity by Game 4 or Game 5. Pocket picks, flexible roles, and creative counter-drafting can all decide a series.

First Selection adds another layer. In 2026, teams that would previously have earned side selection instead receive First Selection. That lets them choose either which side to play on, blue or red, or whether they want first pick or second pick in draft. The opponent then gets the remaining choice.

That choice can matter a lot if one champion warps the meta. Some teams will value blue side. Others may care more about controlling first pick. MSI 2026 should show which teams understand that tradeoff best under international pressure.

How to watch MSI 2026

The best way to watch MSI 2026 is through LoLEsports.com, because that is where fans can follow the official schedule, watch live, and become eligible for Drops while logged in with a Riot ID. You can also watch through official Riot Twitch channels and approved co-streamers.

The main English broadcast is available through the Riot Games Twitch channel. Riot also lists regional MSI broadcast channels for CBLOL, Latin America, Taiwan, and Japan.

• Riot Games
• CBLOL
• LoL Esports LA
• LoL Esports TW
• League of Legends JP

MSI 2026 Drops and live rewards

MSI Drops are back for 2026. Fans can earn event rewards by watching MSI matches live on LoLEsports.com while logged in with a Riot ID.

Riot has confirmed new MSI Drops including the “Ducky!” and “No Running!” icons featuring Yunara and Renekton. There will also be special partner activations from Opera GX, Secretlab, and Coinbase during the tournament.

The key detail is that Drops are tied to live viewing. Watching VODs after the match is useful for catching up, but fans who want rewards should watch live through LoL Esports with their Riot ID connected.

Twitch subscriptions at MSI 2026

Twitch subscriptions are also returning for MSI 2026. Subscribers to LoL Esports channels can receive benefits such as custom chat emotes, subscriber badges, and ad-free viewing.

Riot says a portion of subscription proceeds will go into the Global Revenue Pool, which supports leagues and teams across the LoL Esports ecosystem.

MSI Pick’Ems 2026 rewards

MSI Pick’Ems powered by AWS returns in 2026. Fans can make predictions through LoLEsports.com Pick’Ems or directly inside the League of Legends client. If you want help choosing predictions, read our full MSI Pick’Ems guide before locking your picks.

Pick’Ems is built for fans who want more than passive viewing. You predict tournament results, track how your picks perform, and earn rewards based on participation and accuracy.

MSI Crystal Ball comes to MSI for the first time

Crystal Ball powered by AWS is coming to MSI for the first time in 2026. Instead of only predicting match winners, Crystal Ball asks fans to predict tournament-wide trends before the first match is played.

These predictions can cover the tournament meta, player performance, surprise picks, and other major moments. Riot specifically frames it as a way to test whether fans can read the tournament before it begins.

Four Crystal Ball predictions will resolve after Play-Ins, while the remaining 16 will resolve at the end of MSI. Fans need to lock their predictions before the first match on June 28. Completing Crystal Ball predictions gives players a chance to earn the exclusive “Doesn’t Look Good” emote.

MSI 2026 skin promotions and Broken Covenant Jhin

Broken Covenant Jhin is the official LoL Esports revenue-share champion skin for MSI 2026. Players can support the competitive ecosystem by purchasing the skin, bundles, or Chromas during the event period.

After MSI crowns a champion, Riot will release MSI Winner accessories. The winning region will be able to buy those winner accessories for 1 Blue Essence each. Riot also confirmed that a portion of proceeds from Broken Covenant Jhin and MSI Winner items will be shared with LoL Esports teams competing in 2026.

There is also an International Tournament Skin Promotion from July 13 to July 20. During that window, players can buy the same eligible skins used by the winning team in the Finals at 33% off.

Ultimate, Mythic Variant, Exalted, and Transcendent skins are excluded from that discount. If one of those excluded skins appears in the Finals, Riot will replace it with a comparable eligible skin for the promotion.

MSI 2026 co-streaming

MSI 2026 will have the largest co-streaming roster in the tournament’s history. Riot says the Co-Streamer Hub powered by Opera GX will include more than 100 co-streamers, giving fans different languages, regions, personalities, and viewing styles in one searchable directory.

The program remains invite-only for MSI 2026, with Riot focusing on creators who have actively covered regional leagues throughout the year. Every team qualified for MSI is also invited to co-stream the full event and can collaborate with officially affiliated creators.

Riot plans to reveal the full lineup of remote co-streamers on June 22, while on-site co-streamers will be announced closer to the final week of the tournament. Fans can also browse the League of Legends category on Twitch during MSI to find live League streams, but Riot’s official Co-Streamer Hub is the best place to confirm approved MSI 2026 co-streams once the full lineup is published.

MSI 2026 merchandise

The MSI 2026 apparel capsule follows the “Call Your Shot” theme. Riot describes the collection around risky bets, rivalries, upsets, and the energy of international League of Legends.

For fans who cannot attend the event in Daejeon, select pieces from the MSI 2026 capsule will be available online from June 22 for a limited time. Availability may vary by region.

• NA/EU: Riot Games Merch
• KR: Riot Store Korea
• CN TMall: League of Legends TMall
• CN JD: League of Legends JD store

MSI Fan Festa in Daejeon

MSI Fan Festa gives in-person fans more to do around the event. It runs from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm KST from July 3 to July 9, excluding July 7. From July 10 to July 12, Fan Festa runs from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm KST.

The headline attraction is the Locke experiential zone, an immersive demon forest inspired by the Locke and Vayne story. Riot says the zone includes champion voice lines and cinematic environments.

Fans can also visit an arcade zone with League-inspired mini games, including Baron Smite Dual, Smack the Demon, Arrow to the Demon, and LoL Trivia Kiosk. Additional Fan Festa activations include team booths, Red Bull and SOOP/CHZZK experiences, creator and cosplay appearances, Artist Alley, the Riot Store, and more.

MSI 2026 venue, tickets, and event policy

MSI 2026 is being played at Daejeon Convention Center II in Daejeon, South Korea. The venue gives this year’s event a new Korean host city while keeping the tournament inside one of League of Legends’ most important esports countries.

Fans attending in person should check Riot’s MSI 2026 venue event policies before traveling. The rules cover age restrictions, banners and signs, camera equipment, livestreaming, cosplay props, oversized bags, re-entry, food and drinks, filming notices, and strobe-light warnings.

Some of the most important practical rules are easy to miss. Anyone under 12 must be accompanied by an adult aged 19 or older. Signs and banners must be event-related, no larger than 60 cm by 60 cm, and cannot include political messaging, commercial branding, offensive language, or support poles.

Professional or interchangeable-lens cameras are not allowed, and neither are tripods, monopods, gimbals, selfie sticks, flash equipment, or unauthorized professional recording setups. Unauthorized livestreaming from inside the venue is also prohibited.

Cosplay is allowed, but full or partial face coverings are not permitted. Props cannot include realistic weapons, sharp edges, metal blades, or anything event security considers unsafe. Oversized bags above 45.7 cm by 57 cm by 19 cm are prohibited, and the venue does not provide storage for large personal items.

For competitive rules and official tournament documentation, Riot’s Competitive Operations site is the best place to check current esports regulations.

Why MSI 2026 matters for Worlds

MSI 2026 matters because it changes the road to Worlds. The winning team earns a direct place at the 2026 League of Legends World Championship, but the invite only becomes effective if that team also reaches its domestic playoffs later in the season.

That condition keeps MSI meaningful without letting one great international run replace the rest of the year. A team can win a huge advantage in Daejeon, but it still has to remain competitive at home.

The second-place region also gets rewarded with an additional Worlds seed. That means a deep MSI run can help more than the finalist itself. It can improve the entire region’s path into the final international event of the year.

What MSI 2026 could feel like on stage

Part of MSI’s appeal is timing. The tournament comes late enough in the year that teams already have real identities, but early enough that the global meta can still shift before Worlds. That makes MSI feel like both a championship event and a preview of what the strongest regions may look like later in the season.

Daejeon also gives the tournament a different backdrop. South Korea has hosted some of League’s most memorable international moments, and an MSI in a new Korean host city gives fans a fresh setting for old regional rivalries. The LCK and LPL will carry huge expectations, but the format gives every region a chance to change the story through one strong best-of-five run.

Looking back at MSI 2025 helps explain why the event matters so much. The best MSI tournaments create a mix of crowd pressure, international adaptation, draft surprises, and regional pride that domestic play rarely matches.

Frequently asked questions about MSI 2026

When is MSI 2026?

MSI 2026 runs from June 28 to July 12, 2026. The Play-In Stage runs from June 28 to July 1, and the Bracket Stage runs from July 3 to July 12.

Where is MSI 2026?

MSI 2026 takes place in Daejeon, South Korea, at Daejeon Convention Center II.

Which teams qualified for MSI 2026?

The qualified MSI 2026 teams are Bilibili Gaming, Top Esports, Hanwha Life Esports, T1, G2 Esports, Karmine Corp, LYON, Team Liquid Alienware, Team Secret Whales, Revolve Deep Cross Gaming, and FURIA.

What is the MSI 2026 format?

MSI 2026 uses a four-team double-elimination Play-In Stage followed by an eight-team double-elimination Bracket Stage. Every match is played as a best-of-five.

Which teams start in the MSI 2026 Play-In Stage?

The MSI 2026 Play-In teams are T1, Karmine Corp, Revolve Deep Cross Gaming, and Team Liquid Alienware. Only one team advances from Play-In to the Bracket Stage.

Which teams start in the MSI 2026 Bracket Stage?

Bilibili Gaming, Top Esports, Hanwha Life Esports, G2 Esports, Team Secret Whales, LYON, and FURIA start directly in the MSI 2026 Bracket Stage. The final Bracket Stage spot goes to the Play-In winner.

How do MSI 2026 Drops work?

To earn MSI 2026 Drops, watch matches live on LoLEsports.com while logged in with your Riot ID. Drops include exclusive event rewards and partner activations during MSI.

What are the MSI 2026 Pick’Ems rewards?

MSI 2026 Pick’Ems rewards include the El Tigre Braum “Pinfall” emote for participation, a Zenith Games Blitzcrank icon for Top 50%, a Janitor Thresh & Zac emote for Top 25%, and Broken Covenant Jhin plus the Jhin champion for Perfect Picks.

What is MSI Crystal Ball?

MSI Crystal Ball is a prediction game where fans forecast tournament-wide trends before the first match. It appears at MSI for the first time in 2026, and players can earn the exclusive “Doesn’t Look Good” emote by locking predictions before June 28.

What skin is tied to MSI 2026?

Broken Covenant Jhin is the official MSI 2026 LoL Esports revenue-share skin. A portion of proceeds from Broken Covenant Jhin and MSI Winner accessories will support LoL Esports teams competing in 2026.

How can fans watch MSI 2026?

Fans can watch MSI 2026 on LoLEsports.com, through official Riot Twitch channels, or through approved MSI co-streamers. LoLEsports.com is the best option for viewers who want to earn Drops.

What to watch next at MSI 2026

MSI 2026 now has its full team list, confirmed stage dates, reward details, Pick’Ems structure, Crystal Ball debut, skin promotion, co-streaming plan, merch rollout, and Fan Festa schedule. The only major pieces left to follow are live match results, bracket progression, champion priority, and which team actually turns Daejeon into a Worlds advantage.

With T1 starting in Play-In, both LPL teams skipping straight to the Bracket Stage, and every series played as a best-of-five, MSI 2026 should become one of the most important early tests of the year. It is not just a warm-up for Worlds. It is the tournament where every region gets to call its shot before the final stretch of the season begins.

For the latest updates, check the official MSI 2026 Primer, the LoL Esports schedule, and the MSI Pick’Ems page. You can also follow RiftDaily’s MSI hub, LoL esports coverage, League of Legends news, LoL updates, patch notes, LoL leaks, LoL tournaments guide, players section, and teams section for more coverage before and during the event.