Riot Games has confirmed an expanded format for the NLC Summer Split 2026, which will spell the end of the League of Legends league.
The NLC is ending after seven years to head in a new direction after the NLC’s former organisers stepped down just before the Spring Split was supposed to start earlier this year.
As Riot announced back in May, the NLC will split into two separate regional leagues in 2027, one for UK and Ireland, and another for the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).
This year’s NLC Summer Split format will reflect that with slots open to teams from smaller national leagues.
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NLC Summer Split 2026 Format
The NLC Summer Split will be expanded to 16 teams to give other smaller national teams crucial experience before next year’s region split.
Eight national league teams will join eight of the 10 teams that competed in NLC Spring 2026, including back-to-back champions Verdant.
Streamer teams La Bombas, created by Tim ‘Sloppy Walrus’ Mager, and 4 Swins & A Bum, created by Maksymilian ‘Drututt’ Przychodzień, have both disbanded and will not participate.
The other eight slots will be divided amongst teams from:
- UK Esports League
- LOL DK Ligaen
- Finnish Pro League
- Komplettligaen (Norway)
- RIVALS LEAGUE (Sweden)
The national league teams will be selected by each competition’s organizers. Sweden and Norway will each get two slots, while the rest will get one guaranteed place.
Finnish, Danish, and UK/Irish teams will then compete in a last chance qualifier for the eighth final NLC slot.
The 16 teams will compete in a modified Swiss Stage bracket of best-of-threes, with NLC originals facing national league teams in the opening round.
The top eight will then proceed to the Playoffs for a chance at qualification for EMEA Masters.
Do you think the region split and the end of the NLC will be a good thing? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord.
In other LoL esports news, G2 vs T1 at MSI was the most-watched LoL match this year. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
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