Everything You Need to Know About the ERL and EM Formats in 2025

The 2025 competitive season is rapidly approaching, and we still have some exciting surprises to reveal about the EMEA Regional Leagues (ERLs) and EMEA Masters (EM) before they kick off!

Recently, we announced updates to the licence agreements that will shape the ecosystem moving forward. Now, we’re thrilled to share a few format changes that will align the ERLs and EM more closely with the LEC and the in-game ranked League of Legends seasons.

Three Splits: The Arrival of Winter

Starting next season, all ERLs will adopt a new season format consisting of three splits that will culminate in a season finale! The season finale of each ERL will be adapted to suit local needs. This change not only creates more opportunities for players to showcase their skills, but also introduces an additional pathway for teams to qualify for EMEA Masters.

In 2025, each league will have greater flexibility to design split formats tailored to their unique needs and communities. So, expect a diverse array of formats across the ERLs next year!

EMEA Masters: A Three-Act Play

As hinted earlier, EMEA Masters is expanding to include three events throughout the year, giving fans more chances to watch top-tier competition. While we’re not ready to share the full 2025 format just yet, expect unique variations in length and structure for each event—each with its own rhythm.

Fearless Draft…

Fans have been excited about the introduction of Fearless Draft to Tier 1 LoL Esports. We’re pleased to confirm that Fearless Draft will also debut in ERLs and EMEA Masters for the 2025 season!

Similar to its rollout in Tier 1, Fearless Draft will be introduced in the Winter Split and will follow the same version as Tier 1. For more details on how Fearless Draft works, check out this link.  

Schedule 

To accommodate the additional split, we’ve extended the season while ensuring there’s time for teams—and viewers—to catch their breath. Below is a snapshot of the schedule:

ERL Winter Split: January 13 – March 9
ERL Spring Split: March 24 – May 30

EMEA Masters Winter: March 17 – March 23
EMEA Masters Spring: June 3 – June 21

Stay tuned for the full Summer Split dates, which we’ll announce later in the year. In the meantime, visit lolesports.com and follow your local ERL social media channels for all the latest updates.