First Stand 2026: Teams, Format, and Everything You Need to Know
- Miguel Méndez
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The professional League of Legends circuit is set to begin its first international tournament of the season, bringing together the Split 1 champions from each regional league. Here is everything you need to know about the qualified teams, tournament format, and key dates for First Stand 2026.
In 2025, Riot Games expanded its competitive calendar by introducing a new international event. For its second edition, First Stand 2026 will feature not only the champions from the major leagues but also the second-place teams from South Korea’s LCK and China’s LPL, awarded additional slots based on their regions’ performances at the Mid-Season Invitational and the World Championship in recent years.
First Stand 2026 Format and Schedule
For the 2026 edition, First Stand 2026 will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, and will be divided into two phases: the Group Stage and the Knockout Stage.
During the opening phase, matches will follow a best-of-five format within a double-elimination bracket, while maintaining the Fearless Draft system, which prevents teams from selecting the same champions again throughout a series.
The Group Stage will split the eight participating teams into two groups, with the top four advancing to the Knockout Stage. The playoffs will follow a single-elimination, best-of-five bracket to determine the finalists.
First Stand 2026 Schedule
Group Stage: March 16 to March 20
Knockout Stage: March 21
Grand Final: March 22
Teams Qualified for First Stand 2026
These are the teams that have already secured their place in São Paulo, with the final spots from China's LPL yet to be decided.
LCK (South Korea)
Gen.G (GEN)
BNK FearX (BFX)
LEC (Europe)
G2 Esports (G2)
LCP (Asia-Pacific)
Team Secret Whales (TSW)
CBLOL (Brazil)
LOUD (LOUD)
LPL (China)
Bilibili Gaming(Finals on March 8)
First Stand 2026 Rewards and Drops
Fans following the First Stand 2026 action will be able to earn in-game rewards by watching the live broadcast on LoLEsports.com. However, viewers must first log in with their Riot ID to be eligible for drops throughout the tournament.
An exclusive Evelynn emote will appear during the Grand Final, alongside other surprise rewards tied to the Esports World Cup. Secretlab will also be featured during specific moments throughout the event.
Broadcast Information
In addition, co-streamers in multiple languages will be available, allowing fans to enjoy the First Stand 2026 action alongside their favorite content creators.
