First Stand 2026 is the first international League of Legends tournament of the season, taking place from March 16 to 22 at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil.
The eight best teams in the world are attending this tournament. With a prize pool of $1 million and a bye to the bracket stage of the Mid-Season Invitational, there is a lot at stake.
Besides, with only three internationals a year, every chance to prove the strength of a region is worth watching. Here is everything you need to know about First Stand 2026.
| Event | First Stand 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 16 – March 22, 2026 |
| Location | Riot Games Arena, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Total Prize Pool | $1,000,000 USD |
| Winner’s Share | $250,000 + MSI Play-ins bye |
| Number of Teams | 8 (Winner of all 6 major leagues, plus Korea’s and China’s runner-up) |
| Group Stage | March 16 – March 20 |
| Knockout Stage | March 21 – March 22 (4 teams) |
| Format | Group Stage (Double-elimination Bo5s) → Knockout Stage (Single-Elimination Bo5s) |
First Stand 2026 will feature the top two teams of China and South Korea along with the best team from the four other major regions. All of them have been placed into two groups, where they will fight to advance to the Knockout Stage.
These are the eight best League of Legends teams that qualified for First Stand 2026:
LCK (South Korea)
LPL (China)
LEC (EMEA)
LCS (North America)
LCP (Asia-Pacific)
CBLOL (Brazil)
The winner of First Stand 2026 will earn $250,000 and secure an MSI bracket-stage bye for their region.
As LoL pro players earn most of their money through salaries rather than prize pools, the main stake of this tournament is to prove the strength of one’s roster and region. All participating teams are fighting to put a stop to Korea’s long-standing reign.
We’ve ranked these teams among favorites, teams with potential, and dark horses. Read our analysis of the teams at First Stand 2026.
| Placing | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $250,000 and a bye to the MSI Bracket Stage for the region |
| 2nd | $150,000 |
| 3rd-4th | $125,000 |
| 5th-6th | $100,000 |
| 7th-8th | $75,000 |
The tournament will be taking place in two phases: the Group Stage, then the Knockout Stage.
The Group Stage will take place from March 16 to March 20. The eight teams are split into two groups of four.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Bilibili Gaming | Gen.G |
| BNK FearX | JD Gaming |
| G2 Esports | LYON |
| Team Secret Whales | LOUD |
There will be ten matches played in the Group Stage. As a result, every match is meaningful, and with two best-of-fives per day, there will be a lot of opportunities for LoL betting on the table.
To start off, here are the round 1 matches:
In round 1, we will see face-offs between the two titanic regions of South Korea and China. On the other hand, LYON will have a chance to avenge the LCS after the Americas Cup. As for G2, this should be their easiest match, but true fans will always be afraid of G2’s odds against teams from weaker regions.
First Stand preview: Knockout stage. Image source: Riot Games
The Knockout Stage of First Stand 2026 will take place on March 21 and 22. The four qualifying teams from the group stage will compete here.
With most rosters changing at the start of a season and major changes to the game, each year creates a new environment for League of Legends and its competitive scene. The LCK looks to still be the best league in the world, but First Stand will be the first indication of each region’s relative strength.
Therefore, watching this tournament is instrumental to better understand the future League internationals and place more educated bets on them.
Featured image source: Riot Games
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