Winter LoL Season: Tournaments to Watch from December to February

By LOLValue Team · November 19, 2025

The 2025/2026 esports season has already become one of the most exciting on record. Fans of League of Legends (LoL) enjoy major developments, enabling brimming action. Winter promises even more fun. The game is undergoing significant format overhauls, while new competitive circuits are making their debut in the industry. To keep you informed about the “cold season” action, we’ve made a clear calendar of LoL tournaments to watch from December to February. Whether you’re following your favorite team or just exploring the esports landscape to bet on esports betting sites, this guide has you covered.

2025 KeSPA Cup

2025 KeSPA Cup is the annual esports tournament established by the Korea e-Sports Association. The event will take place from December 6 to December 14, 2025 in South Korea. Twelve teams will be split into four groups as part of the group stage with a single round robin format. The best two teams of each group will move to the knockout stage.

This year, the tournament has seen a few slight changes. For instance, the average time of the games won will be compared. A faster win determines a higher seeding at the knockout stage. The finals involve the top five players. The total price pool has been estimated at ₩ 80,000,000 South Korean Won. The total amount is going to be split among the top four players. The whole event promises to attract almost 200,000 peak viewers and reach around 3 million hours watched.

LPL Split 1

LPL Split 1 2026 is the first split of the 2026 LPL season, featuring a partnership and guest team system. The initial stage takes place from January 1 to February 1, 2026, with 16 participants. The playoff stage takes place from February 2 to March 1, 2026. Matches rely on "Hard Fearless Draft" since the winner can only be picked once by each team. The side selection for the first games becomes known during the 2v2 match. Eventually, six teams move to the playoffs.

LPL Split 1 2026 serves as an early-season litmus test and major pathway toward international events. With the top teams reaching he pedestal, every series plays a crucial role for the whole industry. The use of different locations highlights the LPL’s national footprint. The game standards remain extremely high, which reflects on China’s reputation as a global LoL powerhouse.

LCK Cup 2026

LCK CUP 2026 is the sixth year of the professional LoL league in South Korea. This year’s format remains unchanged. The tournament involves ten teams, split into two groups. Matches use "Hard Fearless Draft", with champions being picked by either team during the series. Each team player against all teams from the opposite group once. A “Super Week” is a new feature that will count each win double. In the playoffs, two teams from the Winners Group and one team from the Losers Group move forward. The play-in stage involves matches between four teams.

For the play-in and playoffs, the tournament is going to be reduced from four to just three weeks. Meanwhile, the number of matches remains the same, making the calendar intense as never before. Among the esports leagues that have introduced their formats, the LCK is probably the only one to keep the same structure. This stability determined their success during the 2025 season. The clear dates haven’t been revealed, but it will take place in January.

LEC Winter 2026

LEC Winter 2026 is the fourth year of the EMEA League of Legends Championship, introducing a new format called LEC Versus. The new format replaces the former Winter Split and features 10 LEC teams alongside two elite ERL teams, including the dominant Los Ratones. The tournament opens with a single round robin, where every team competes against every other. The top eight teams move to the playoffs, with early rounds in best-of-three and finals in best-of-five format.

The winner will claim the LEC Versus Trophy and earn the EMEA qualification for the upcoming First Stand international event. LEC Versus encourages well-balanced competition across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The new format ensures intense action, high stakes, and exciting matchups that set the tone for the 2026 LEC season. The tournament is scheduled to run from January 1 to March 1, 2026. As it stands, Riot still might announce some changes to address possible criticism. What is on the line is the LEC’s most ambitious shift in many years.

LTA North 2026

Winter LoL LTA 2026 is a new regional esports tournament, established in 2025 to merge North America (LCS), Brazil (CBLOL), and Latin America (LLA). Organized by Riot Games, it is divided into North and South conferences. The new system replaces LLA and LCS/CBLOL structures, with teams competing in separate splits. LTA North 2026 will start on January 1, 2026. The date for LTA South 2026 hasn’t been revealed so far.

Both conferences have the same format. Each event involves one guest team, two teams from NACL Split 2, and two teams from LRN Split 2. Another seed from NACL and LRN takes place in the play-in. The hybrid elimination bracket makes the competition more engaging. The winner automatically qualifies for the LCS 2026 Season.

LoL fans won’t experience the lack of events this winter. While some tournaments still have missing dates, the schedule has already been released. So, there is enough time to prepare for the bury winter season. Matches and stage structure aim to reach a balance between transparency and competitive edge. Rosters may still be updated ahead of the new season, increasing volatility and betting opportunities. For fans and specialists, this winter season sets the stage for the entire competitive year.

LoL account value calculator · LoL skins database · LoL MMR checker · Wasted on LoL · Riot Points to USD

LoLValue isn't endorsed by Riot Games and doesn't reflect the views or opinions of Riot Games or anyone officially involved in producing or managing Riot Games properties. Riot Games, and all associated properties are trademarks or registered trademarks of Riot Games, Inc.