© 2025 Riot Games. All Rights Reserved.
© 2025 Riot Games. All Rights Reserved.
13 ERLs will return in 2026 with the same three-split format
The unified LTR mandate is gone; TOs are free to set rules that best support their region
A new TO is joining us, with the Spanish ERL being led by LastLap
The ERL’s Karmine Corp Blue and Los Ratones will compete in LEC Versus
It’s not long now until the 2026 season starts and our EMEA regional leagues (ERLs) return with three more splits of exciting games and mind-boggling plays from EMEA’s up-and-coming talent.
Our 13 ERLs will continue to develop emerging stars and provide more opportunities for competitive play at the regional level. Each one helps build local communities and showcases the potential superstars and passionate fanbase each region possesses.
Fostering our young prospects into superstars who push forward our competitive scene will always be the primary goal. For the 2025 season, more than a dozen ERL players joined the LEC, including the highly anticipated Caliste from Karmine Corp. His LEC debut lived up to the hype, helping his team make an incredible run to the First Stand Finals and earning him the LEC Rookie of the Year award by a landslide vote.
EMEA’s pathway to high-level League of Legends competition has never been clearer, giving regional talent the spotlight they deserve.
We’re building upon a transformative 2025 to create a competitive and exciting ERL circuit. Here’s all you need to know about the 2026 ERL season.
ERL Winter Split: 7 January - 8 March
ERL Spring Split: 23 March - 7 June
ERL Summer Split: 26 June - 17 September
Please note that the ERL dates are preliminary and may vary for each league.
EMEA Masters Winter: 9 March - 15 March
EMEA Masters Spring: 8 June - 25 June
EMEA Masters Summer: 21 September - 19 October
Stay tuned for everything you need to know on the 2026 EMEA Masters, which we will announce in the new year. In the meantime, visit lolesports.com and follow your local ERL social media channels for all the latest updates.
We made some integral rule changes in 2025, which were designed to help build a sustainable ecosystem by allowing TOs more flexibility to adapt to regional needs. We’re delighted with where we landed, so we are not making too many changes this season.
If you would like a recap on last year’s changes, you can check out this article here.
Historically, we have required all ERL teams to field at least two locally trained representatives (LTRs), a unified rule across all leagues. Last year, we changed this to allow some ERLs to increase this limit to better serve their region’s specific needs.
With 13 leagues all across EMEA, we understand that each league has unique circumstances: there isn’t always a one-size-fits-all approach. That is why, for 2026, we are removing this unified mandate altogether. ERLs will not be required to sport an LTR limit, but will instead be free to develop and apply their own guidelines that are most appropriate for their region.
Removing the LTR mandate doesn’t mean our goals are shifting away from developing young talent and strengthening regional identity in each league. Far from it, we know those two ingredients are what make the ERL ecosystem so special. Fostering regional talent is what enables our TOs to engage with local fans and connect with meaningful sponsorships.
We want to instead empower TOs to deliver the best product possible for their audiences. We trust our local TOs know, better than anyone else, what their fans want and regions need. This upcoming season will see each ERL become more competitive and distinctive to help build a more representative ecosystem with leagues each region can be even prouder of.
Our 13 ERLs are back for another huge three-split season. Though one is under new leadership.
We’re excited to welcome LastLap and Cabal Esports which will oversee our Spanish league. We can’t wait to see how they shape the league with fresh changes and build upon LVPs legacy of producing two teams that have gone on to win EMEA Masters titles.
More news from all the ERLs will be announced soon, so keep an eye out for updates from your local league:
Spain ERL
Spain ERLs’ social media channels will be shared soon.
For the first time ever, two ERL teams will participate in a Tier 1 competition. EMEA Masters Summer 2025 champions Karmine Corp Blue, and two-time EMEA Masters champions Los Ratones have earned their guest spots in LEC Versus, the brand new invitational competition kicking off the 2026 season.
These two high-performing teams will have the chance to compete against every LEC team to earn a spot at First Stand. With the best-of-one round robin format, the ERL teams are guaranteed at least 11 games in the invitational. LEC Versus will forge new rivalries, deliver fresh storylines, and give ERL teams the chance to test their skills against EMEA's very best.
This does mean that both teams will miss their regular season back in their ERLs. However, we’re working with both tournament organisers to allow flexibility in their respective Winter Split Playoffs.
Stay tuned for more details on EMEA Masters 2026, which we’ll announce soon. And in the meantime, visit lolesports.com and follow your local ERL’s social media channels for all the latest updates.
