Riot Games announces 2026 World Star Challengers Invitational

Riot Games and TJ Sports have announced the inaugural 2026 World Star Challengers Invitational, a pilot tournament dedicated to Tier 2 League of Legends competition. Scheduled to run from September 20 to October 2, 2026, the event aims to accelerate player development and bridge the gap between emerging talent and top-tier professional leagues like the LEC or LCK.

The tournament will feature 16 teams from five major regions: China, Korea, APAC, the Americas, and EMEA, alongside the Asia Masters champion. The competition format begins with a double round-robin phase from September 20 to 25, consisting of best-of-one matches. This will be followed by a knockout stage from September 27 to October 2, where the top eight teams will compete in best-of-five series.

Designed as a development-focused showcase, the event seeks to strengthen connections between regional ecosystems and provide a global stage for rising players to test their tactical adaptability against diverse international playstyles.