League of Legends LCP overhauls qualification in 2027, teams to compete at home first

Riot Games is overhauling qualification for the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP), requiring every team to compete in their domestic league before advancing to the regional stage starting in 2027.

The change, confirmed in a press release on 21 September, shifts the current model where teams spend full seasons based in the LCP. From 2027, each split will begin at domestic level in the PCS, VCS, or LJL, with top performers progressing to the LCP as a bracket stage.

Every team in the three domestic leagues now gets a qualification opportunity each split, replacing the current system where only one or two teams per league can compete in the annual Promotion Series. Teams will relocate operations back to home regions instead of maintaining a Taipei base. Wild Card regions retain a Promotion Series pathway into the LCP.

Riot cited relocation costs as a key driver, noting that basing teams outside their home markets increased operating expenses and limited in-person fan engagement. Player welfare also factored into the decision, with extended time away from support networks flagged as a strain.

The LCP retains its status as APAC's sole gateway to international events. Current LCP teams continue to earn Global Event GRP, including those promoted or retained via Promotion Series. The two-year centralised LCP format produced record near-500,000 peak viewership at the 2025 Mid Season Finals and APAC's best Worlds result since 2015, with CTBC Flying Oyster reaching the 2025 Worlds quarterfinals.

Riot has yet to confirm slot distribution, format specifics, or Wild Card integration rules, with further details promised in coming months via official league channels.