As the LCS prepares to make its highly anticipated return in 2026, North American teams are revamping their rosters in a quest for the championship title. This season introduces some exciting changes, including a new contender in the form of Sentinels, a name that will be familiar to fans of VALORANT. Various teams have already begun making strategic moves, while the off-season has been a whirlwind of intriguing developments.
With the addition of Sentinels, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the reshaped teams will fare in the tournament.
Cloud9
Despite not securing a spot at Worlds 2025, Cloud9 is opting for stability with only one change in their lineup for 2026. Korean mid laner Lee ‘Loki’ Sang-min has left the organization for personal reasons, paving the way for Eain ‘APA’ Stearns from Team Liquid to join as the domestic mid laner. This lineup adjustment, alongside other key players with contracts lasting until the end of 2028, signifies Cloud9’s commitment to this ensemble.
Additionally, changes in the coaching staff are notable, with Christian ‘IWDominate’ Rivera stepping in as strategic coach and Nicholas ‘Inero’ Smith taking the role of head coach.
C9 2026 LCS Roster
- Top: Thanatos
- Jungle: Blabler
- Mid: APA
- Bot: Zven
- Support: Vulcan
Dignitas
After a challenging 2025, Dignitas is set for a fresh start with Korean top laner Kyeong ‘Photon’ Gyu-tae as the cornerstone of their rebuild. As previous players depart, Dignitas introduces Simon ‘Swiffer’ Papamarkos as the new head coach, coming from Team Liquid, to spearhead this transformation.
DIG 2026 LCS Roster
- Top: Photon
- Jungle: To be confirmed
- Mid: To be confirmed
- Bot: To be confirmed
- Support: To be confirmed
FlyQuest
FlyQuest, despite domestic triumphs, faced disappointment at the World Championship and is gearing up for a revamp in 2026. Key departures include Gabriël ‘Bwipo’ Rau and Kacper ‘Inspired’ Słoma, with İbrahim ‘Gagkos’ Samet Bulut stepping up to the top lane.
FLY 2026 LCS Roster
- Top: Gakgos
- Jungle: To be confirmed
- Mid: Quad
- Bot: Massu
- Support: To be confirmed
LYON
LYON emerges as a formidable force this offseason, acquiring the coveted LTA 2025 player of the year, Inspired, from FlyQuest. Alongside mid laner Kang ‘Saint’ Sung-in and Frankie ‘Zamudo’ Lin, LYON aims to become a serious playoff contender.
LYON 2026 LCS Roster
- Top: Zamudo
- Jungle: Inspired
- Mid: Saint
- Bot: To be confirmed
- Support: To be confirmed
Sentinels
With the departure of 100 Thieves, Sentinels steps in as the new contender for the LCS 2026 season. Under the guidance of head coach Greyson Gregory ‘Goldenglue’ Gilmer, Sentinels is banking on a formidable lineup, including Korean veterans Jeong “Impact” Eon-young and Choi “huhi” Jae-hyun.
SEN 2026 LCS Roster
- Top: Impact
- Jungle: HamBak
- Mid: DARKWINGS
- Bot: Rahel
- Support: huhi
Shopify Rebellion
Shopify Rebellion is looking to build upon a strong 2025 season, with a significant upgrade in the mid lane. With Cristian ‘Palafox’ Palafox being replaced by the promising Korean star Yoo ‘Zinie’ Baek-jin, hopes are high for title contention in 2026.
SR 2026 LCS Roster
- Top: Fudge
- Jungle: Contractz
- Mid: Zinie
- Bot: Bvoy
- Support: Ceos
Team Liquid
Missing out on Worlds, Team Liquid has undertaken a major overhaul for 2026, welcoming top-tier Korean players Park ‘Morgan’ Ru-han and Lim ‘Quid’ Hyeon-seung. Additionally, Argentinian jungler Brandon ‘Josedeodo’ Joel Villegas makes a return to the North American scene to bolster the team’s chances.
TL 2026 LCS Roster
- Top: Morgan
- Jungle: Josedeodo
- Mid: Quid
- Bot: Yeon
- Support: CoreJJ
Disguised
After securing their spot through the LTA Promotion tournament, Disguised, owned by streamer Jeremy ‘Disguised Toast’ Wang, is ready for another year in the LCS with a refreshed roster. Maintaining a balance of domestic talent and experienced Korean players, they aim to make an impact in the upcoming season.
DSG 2026 LCS Roster
- Top: Castle
- Jungle: KryRa
- Mid: Callme
- Bot: Sajed
- Support: Lyonz
When Does the LCS 2026 Season Start?
The LCS will make its triumphant return on January 24th, 2026 with the LCK Lock-In event. This competition, complete with a Swiss Stage and Playoff bracket, will be used to determine North America’s representative at First Stand.
However, for fans wanting to get a glimpse of some LCS action, on December 6th Cloud9 and Team Liquid will be competing in South Korea’s KeSPA Cup 2025. For the first time ever, the off-season League of Legends tournament, organised by Korea’s esports governing body (KeSPA), will feature two LCS teams.