LEC Versus 2026 Finals: Teams, Schedule & First Stand Spot
- Miguel Méndez
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The LEC Versus 2026 Finals are set to take place in Badalona, Spain, with four teams remaining in the race to represent Europe at First Stand 2026. G2 Esports, Movistar KOI, Karmine Corp, and GIANTX will battle for the title and a coveted international berth.
For the 2026 season, the traditional Winter Split was replaced by a kickoff tournament format known as LEC Versus 2026. The competition features 12 teams, including the two top-performing rosters from the 2025 European Regional Leagues (ERLs): Los Ratones and Karmine Corp Blue.
Road to the LEC Versus 2026 Finals
The regular season produced several standout storylines. Los Ratones impressed with breakout performances before being eliminated, after which the roster disbanded. Karmine Corp Blue, meanwhile, will return to ERL competition following a challenging campaign in the LEC Versus 2026 tournament.
As the playoffs unfolded, the title picture shifted dramatically. Fnatic exited during the playoff stage, continuing a run of inconsistent results. GIANTX emerged as one of the biggest surprises after defeating NAVI to secure a place in the final rounds.
G2 Esports Lead the LEC Versus 2026 Finals Race
G2 Esports enter the LEC Versus 2026 Finals as favorites after sweeping Movistar KOI 3–0 to advance directly to the grand final, scheduled for March 1 in Barcelona.
Movistar KOI now await their final opponent, which will be decided in the semifinal between Karmine Corp and GIANTX.
Karmine Corp secured their spot in the semifinals after defeating Team Vitality 2–1. The French organization’s revamped roster aims to replicate its 2025 Winter Split success, when it represented Europe at the inaugural First Stand event.
GIANTX, meanwhile, continue their Cinderella run and look to cap off a breakout tournament with a Finals appearance.
LEC Versus 2026 Finals Schedule
February 27 – Semifinal: GIANTX vs Karmine Corp
March 1 – Grand Final (Barcelona, Spain)
The winner of the tournament will earn the right to represent Europe at First Stand 2026, the first international League of Legends event of the year.
