MSI 2026: New Host City and Format Changes Revealed

Riot Games has announced significant updates for the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), revealing a new host city and format changes for the upcoming international event. The tournament will be held in Daejeon, South Korea, at the Daejeon Convention Center II from June 28 to July 12. This marks the first time a League of Legends esports event will be hosted in Daejeon.

MSI 2026 will follow the First Stand Tournament and the conclusion of the second regional splits, bringing together the top teams from around the world for a mid-season showdown. The tournament will feature key playoff matches and will be divided into two main stages.

The Play-In Stage at MSI 2026 will see a four-team double-elimination bracket, with only one team advancing to the Bracket Stage. A total of eleven teams will compete in the tournament, with seven teams bypassing the Play-In Stage. These include the first seed from each region and the second seeds from the top two-performing regions at First Stand.

Tickets for MSI 2026 will be released in multiple waves through Interpark, providing fans with multiple opportunities to secure seats. Global sales will require a passport, while South Korea sales will require a Korean SSN.

With the new host city of Daejeon and the updated format, MSI 2026 promises to deliver another thrilling international competition in the League of Legends esports calendar.