--- title: "LoL Worlds 2026 Returns to the US for the First Time Since 2022, With a Grand Final in Brooklyn" description: "Three host cities, 19 teams and a $5 million prize pool make up Worlds 2026, and the Grand Final lands on the East Coast for the first time." url: https://gaming.skoop.news/texas-makes-esports-history-with-the-lol-worlds-2026-the-big--10-26/ published: 2026-10-27T04:38:35.338202-04:00 modified: 2026-10-27T04:38:35.338251-04:00 section: "Gaming & Streamers" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["lol worlds", "North American", "Team Liquid Alienware", "Cloud9 Kia", "Grand Final", "Los Angeles", "South Korean", "Allen", "Brooklyn", "Nov"] hashtags: ["#NorthAmerican", "#TeamLiquidAlienware", "#Cloud9Kia", "#Gaming", "#gamingclips"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Los_Angeles_Pollution.jpg/1280px-Los_Angeles_Pollution.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # LoL Worlds 2026 Returns to the US for the First Time Since 2022, With a Grand Final in Brooklyn > Three host cities, 19 teams and a $5 million prize pool make up Worlds 2026, and the Grand Final lands on the East Coast for the first time. Published 2026-10-27 · Updated 2026-10-27 · Gaming & Streamers, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - The League of Legends World Championship is returning to the United States for the first time since 2022. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) - Los Angeles hosted the Play-In Stage, which was held in a tight, 300-seat studio. [[2]](https://secretnyc.co/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-nyc/) - The Grand Final is being held on the East Coast for the first time. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) ## Worlds comes back to American soil The League of Legends World Championship is returning to the United States for the first time since 2022. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) Fans of the game get a tournament that spans three host cities: Los Angeles, Allen, and Brooklyn. [[2]](https://secretnyc.co/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-nyc/) Worlds 2026 brings 19 teams to compete for the championship, and the prize pool is $5 million. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) ## Where each stage is played Los Angeles hosted the Play-In Stage, which was held in a tight, 300-seat studio. [[2]](https://secretnyc.co/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-nyc/) The city is described as the birthplace of the LCS. [[2]](https://secretnyc.co/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-nyc/) Allen, Texas hosts the Swiss Stage and the Quarter/Semifinals at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center, from Oct 23 to Nov 8. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) The arena is expected to hold over 8,000 fans. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) It is the first time the Lone Star State has hosted an international League of Legends tournament. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) The Worlds Grand Final is held in Brooklyn, New York on Nov 14. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) Barclays Center is set to host 19,000 fans for the series, which is a best-of-five. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) ## A first for the East Coast The Grand Final is being held on the East Coast for the first time. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) Historically, North American finals have favored the West Coast. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) The Brooklyn crowd of 19,000 compares with the 300-seat studio used for the Los Angeles Play-In Stage and the 8,000-plus expected in Allen. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) [[2]](https://secretnyc.co/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-nyc/) [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) ## The teams in the field T1 are the defending champions and are part of the South Korean (LCK) group. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) Heavyweights Gen.G and Hanwha Life are also South Korean (LCK) teams. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) Bilibili Gaming, Top Esports, Anyone's Legend, and Invictus Gaming are LPL squads in the China group. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) Team Secret Whales, CTBC Flying Oyster, and MVK Esports are Asia-Pacific (LCP) teams. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) G2 Esports, Movistar KOI, and Karmine Corp are EMEA (LEC) teams. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) LOS and FURIA are Brazilian (CBLOL) teams. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) Team Liquid Alienware, LYON, and Cloud9 Kia are the North American (LCS) teams carrying NA's hopes. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) ## What it means for you If you follow LoL Worlds, the dates to watch are Oct 23 to Nov 8 for the Swiss Stage and Quarter/Semifinals in Allen, and Nov 14 for the Grand Final in Brooklyn. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) If you want to see T1 defend their title, they are in the field as defending champions. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) North American fans have Team Liquid Alienware, LYON, and Cloud9 Kia to follow. [[1]](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) ## Sources 1. [Texas makes Esports history with the LoL Worlds 2026 — the biggest gaming championship is taking over Allen](https://secretdallas.com/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-dallas/) — secretdallas.com 2. [NYC is making Esports history with the LoL Worlds 2026 — the biggest gaming championship is here on November 14th](https://secretnyc.co/league-of-legends-worlds-2026-nyc/) — secretnyc.co Image: Photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Los_Angeles_Pollution.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/