The LCS is back: Riot retires the LTA name and restores NA’s league identity

Riot Games confirmed the League of the Americas (LTA) branding will end after its 2025 run, with the LCS and CBLOL returning in 2026 as independent leagues. The stated goal is to bring back the regional identity fans missed, while keeping the best “pathway” and competition lessons learned from the LTA experiment.

The practical result: no more cross-conference playoffs. Each league gets more calendar room for its own competition days, and the overall structure becomes easier to track across the season.

• The “LTA” branding is discontinued: LCS and CBLOL return as independent leagues in 2026.
• Cross-regional playoffs are removed; each league runs its own season and crowns its own champion.
• International qualification returns to a clearer model: LCS + CBLOL both send teams to First Stand; LCS sends two to MSI and three to Worlds; CBLOL sends one to MSI and one to Worlds.
• LCS 2026 opens with Lock-In on Jan 24, 2026: Best-of-3 Swiss into a top-six, double-elim Best-of-5 bracket (with a Fearless twist).

• The Americas ecosystem still includes LATAM at the top level—just under restored regional league banners.
• LLA does not return as a standalone league; its teams/players remain integrated in the ecosystem.
• Guest team slots remain (LCS: NACL or LRN; CBLOL: CD or LRS) to connect Tier 1 and Tier 2.
• A three-split calendar continues, but with formats designed to be easier to follow.

Riot’s LCS update post also locks in the start: the season begins January 24, 2026 with Lock-In, before the year continues into Spring and Summer splits with best-of-3 regular seasons and top-six playoffs.

• Whether the “more games” promise translates into better on-stage reps and stronger international results.
• How Tier 2 promotion/guest slots evolve (and whether it stabilizes org investment).
• Broadcast + event details Riot teased for “the next chapter” of LCS.