The upcoming year promises an exciting shake-up for the Ligue Française de League of Legends (LFL) as they unveil the format for their 2026 season. Starting with a Winter Invitational, the season progresses through Spring and Summer splits, bringing fresh opportunities and challenges.
Kickoff with the LFL Invitational
The much-anticipated LFL Invitational is set to begin on January 21st, featuring 20 teams vying for coveted spots in the EMEA Masters. Alongside, two teams will secure their places in the LFL’s regular season lineup of 10 teams for 2026. This tournament introduces a significant opportunity for non-LFL teams to enter the competitive scene. The lineup includes seven LFL teams, eight from the second division, and three Game Changers teams. Notably, Karmine Corp Blue will not participate due to commitments in the LEC Versus event next year.
Additionally, two influencer teams make their debut: French Flair, led by G2 co-streamer Jean ‘Trayton’ Medzadourian, and ZYB, centered around Karmine Corp’s substitute player Yasin ‘Nisqy’ Dinçer.
Breaking Down the Tournament Format
The competition begins with five groups of four teams, comprising a mix of LFL squads, Division 2 teams, Game Changers, and influencer teams. From each group, the top two teams will progress to the next stage. The second phase brings the remaining 10 teams into a single super group. Here, the top six teams advance to the playoffs, featuring a double-elimination bracket.
In these playoffs, the two top-ranked teams from the super group enter the upper bracket, while those ranked third to sixth start in the lower bracket. The climax of the tournament will see the best two non-LFL teams earning a slot in the European Regional Leagues (ERL) for the rest of the 2026 season, marking a pivotal entry point into the tier-two scene, including Game Changers rosters.
A New Era for the LFL
The revamped season format arrives soon after policy changes in the ERLs, which included the removal of the unified Locally Trained Representative mandate, granting leagues more flexibility in roster-building. This move aims to enhance regional autonomy and invigorate competition across the leagues.