The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2026 takes place from 28 June to 12 July at the Daejeon Convention Center II in Daejeon, South Korea. The tournament brings together the top teams from each of the game’s professional leagues to compete for the first major international title of the season, with an estimated prize pool of $2,000,000.
What is the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational?
The Mid-Season Invitational is one of two annual international tournaments in the League of Legends competitive calendar, alongside the World Championship. Organised by Riot Games, MSI pits the best teams from each professional region against one another at the midpoint of the competitive season. It is widely regarded as the second most prestigious event in League of Legends esports, offering teams the chance to prove themselves on the global stage before the push towards Worlds later in the year.
MSI 2026 features eleven teams: the top two seeds from the LCK (Korea), LPL (China), LEC (Europe), LCS (North America), and LCP (Pacific), plus the champion of the CBLOL (Brazil). The tournament uses a two-stage format. The Play-In Stage is a double-elimination bracket of best-of-five series, featuring the second seeds from the LCK, LCP, LCS, and LEC. The Bracket Stage follows, with first seeds from each region and the LPL’s second seed (earned through their First Stand Tournament victory) receiving a bye. All matches use best-of-five with Fearless Draft, meaning teams cannot repeat champion picks across games within a series.
When is MSI 2026?
MSI 2026 runs from Saturday 28 June to Sunday 12 July 2026. The Play-In Stage takes place from 28 June to 1 July, with the main Bracket Stage following from 3 July through to the Grand Final on 12 July. Matches typically begin in the afternoon local time (KST, UTC+9), which translates to early morning in Europe and late evening to overnight in North America.
Where is MSI 2026?
The tournament is hosted at the Daejeon Convention Center II (DCC2) in Daejeon, South Korea. Opened in 2022, DCC2 offers 49,754 square metres of usable space and can accommodate up to 8,000 attendees. This marks the first time a League of Legends international event has been held in Daejeon, though the venue previously hosted the 2023 LCK Summer finals. Daejeon is South Korea’s fifth-largest city, located roughly an hour south of Seoul by KTX high-speed rail, making it easily accessible for travelling fans.
Key Contenders
Gen.G enter MSI 2026 as the defending champions, having won back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025. Their 2025 victory came via a dramatic 3-2 comeback against T1 in Vancouver, with midlaner Chovy earning tournament MVP honours. Any LCK representative will carry high expectations, given the region’s recent dominance. The LPL has historically been the most successful region at MSI, claiming five titles including Royal Never Give Up’s record three victories (2018, 2021, 2022) and JDG’s 2023 triumph. European and North American fans will look to their LEC and LCS representatives to challenge the Asian powerhouses, while G2 Esports remain the only Western team to have lifted the MSI trophy, back in 2019.
How to Watch
All MSI 2026 matches are broadcast live and free of charge. The primary English-language streams are available on the official Riot Games channels on both Twitch (twitch.tv/riotgames) and YouTube (LoL Esports). The LoL Esports website (lolesports.com) also offers a dedicated live viewing experience with interactive stats and VOD replays. Regional broadcasts in Korean, Chinese, and other languages are available through their respective regional channels. Co-streaming is permitted, so fans can also follow the action through their favourite content creators on Twitch and YouTube.
History and Records
MSI has been held annually since 2015, with the exception of 2020, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The LPL leads the all-time title count with five victories, followed by the LCK with four. Royal Never Give Up hold the record for the most MSI titles by a single organisation, having won three times. The inaugural event in 2015 saw EDward Gaming defeat SK Telecom T1 3-2 in Tallahassee, Florida. Gen.G became only the third team to win consecutive titles when they triumphed in 2025, joining SKT (2016-2017) and RNG (2021-2022). MSI 2025 set a new peak viewership record of 3,448,373 concurrent viewers during the Grand Final.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for MSI 2026 are sold through Interpark in multiple waves. Mastercard holders receive presale access from 21 April, with general sales for global fans opening on 23 April (passport required for international purchases). South Korean domestic general sales follow on 21 May (Korean SSN required). Specific pricing has not yet been confirmed by Riot Games. Given the popularity of League of Legends esports in South Korea and the venue’s capacity, early purchase is strongly recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does MSI 2026 start?
MSI 2026 begins on Saturday 28 June 2026 with the Play-In Stage at the Daejeon Convention Center II in South Korea.
Where is MSI 2026 being held?
The tournament takes place at the Daejeon Convention Center II in Daejeon, South Korea.
How can I watch MSI 2026?
All matches are streamed free on the Riot Games Twitch and YouTube channels, as well as on lolesports.com.
Who won MSI last year?
Gen.G won MSI 2025, defeating T1 3-2 in the Grand Final in Vancouver, Canada.