In this article
When does the Swiss stage start?
Riot’s official Worlds primer lists the Swiss stage for 23–31 October 2026 in Allen, Texas. The opening day starts at 17:00 UTC on 23 October: 12:00 CDT, 18:00 BST and 19:00 CEST. The UTC conversion uses the published local start time.
How teams qualify
Teams need three match wins to advance and are eliminated after three losses. From round two, teams face opponents with the same record, with no repeat opponent. The first-round draw prevents same-region pairings; that restriction does not continue into later rounds.
The dates to keep
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Swiss stage | 23–31 October |
| Quarterfinals | 3–6 November |
| Semifinals | 7–8 November |
| Final in Brooklyn | 14 November |
Why the draw matters
A win changes not only a team’s progress but also the group of possible opponents in its next draw. When assessing a team’s path, follow both its record and who remains in the same record group. A dramatic opening match is not the whole story.
Watch and verify
Use the official LoL Esports schedule for fixtures, streams and changes. Individual match assignments are not reproduced here unless checked. The Worlds primer contains the full daily start times. Note that daylight-saving changes affect local conversions during the event; the opening-day conversion above should not be reused for every round.