LoL Esports 2027: First Stand Changes
Riot Games announces new host cities and format for LoL Esports 2027
First Stand: All In will feature the most teams in an international LoL Esports event ever. Riot Games has announced changes to the LoL Esports 2027 calendar.
Key takeaways
- First Stand: All In will feature the most teams in an international LoL Esports event ever
- China, Spain, Japan, and South Korea will host LoL Esports events in 2027
- MSI 2027 will take place in Valencia, Spain
- Worlds 2027 will be split between Japan and South Korea
Riot Games has announced its plans for League of Legends Esports in 2027, unveiling a major expansion of the international calendar.
The first event of the year, First Stand: All In, will feature more teams than any other international LoL Esports event ever held, making it the largest tournament Riot has ever produced. The event was initially announced for Southeast Asia but has been relocated to China.
Riot described First Stand: All In as a one-time event designed to bring more teams, players, and members of the global community together to kick off the competitive season. Riot’s official announcement characterized the tournament as a celebration of where League is headed next.
The event will be open to more than just the champions of the LCS, LEC, LCK, LPL, CBLOL, and LCP.
Hosting the biggest LoL tournament ever means First Stand All In will feature more than 24 teams, which is how many competed at LoL Worlds 2017, including the Play-Ins.
Due to this expansion, Riot confirmed that the Winter Split formats in each region will be affected next year to accommodate the event.
Chris Greeley, global head of LoL esports, revealed that First Stand All In will use a format that League of Legends has never run before. More details will not be announced until January next year.
Riot also announced the host cities for all international events in 2027. MSI 2027 will take place at Feria de Valencia in Valencia, Spain, placing it in the same city as the second VALORANT Masters of 2027, possibly reducing logistical and operational costs for the organizer.
Worlds 2027 will be split between two host countries and three cities. The Swiss Stage will be held in Nagoya, Japan, while the Knockouts Stage will take place in Suwon and Seoul, South Korea.
The Worlds 2027 Grand Final will be held in the brand-new Seoul Arena in South Korea. Riot is evaluating whether the Demacia Cup could replace the Play-In Stage for Worlds 2027.
This comes after the great reception of the Demacia Cup Global Invitational, which welcomed international teams for the first time in 2026. Nothing has been finalized so far, but more information is expected as the event draws closer.
SEA fans need not worry, as Riot has promised to deliver First Stand 2028 to the region. G and BLG were set to battle for the Summoner’s Cup.
Riot stated that this new version of First Stand will be a one-off event and the format will return to normal in 2028.
What happens next
The LoL Esports team will share more about First Stand: All In 2027 in January. Riot will also determine whether the Demacia Cup will be integrated into teams’ Path to Worlds as it gets closer to the event.
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