The LEC Spring Split kicks off on March 28, bringing back last year's fan-favorite format with a full slate of BO3s (best-of-three) in the regular season and BO5s in the Playoffs. With two MSI qualification spots on the line, here is everything you need to know.
Format
The regular season is a single round robin played entirely in BO3 across seven weeks. The top six teams qualify for Playoffs, while the bottom four are eliminated.
Playoffs follow a double elimination bracket, all in BO5. The top four seeds enter the Upper Bracket, while the fifth and sixth seeds start in the Lower Bracket facing the losers of the Upper Round 1 matches. The last two teams standing qualify for MSI 2026 in Daejeon, South Korea.
A notable rule change carries over from the broader 2026 LoL Esports season: First Selection replaces traditional side selection. Teams that previously earned side choice now instead get to decide whether to pick a side (Blue or Red) or whether to pick first or second in the draft.
Schedule & Key Dates
Regular season match days run Saturday through Monday at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, with two BO3s per day starting at 17:00 CEST. The exception: Saturdays during the first three weeks feature three series, with broadcasts beginning at 14:00 CEST. Monday broadcasts will no longer include a live audience — a said was driven by consistently low arena attendance on those days.
