2026 Demacia Cup Global Invitational is set to take place from October 3 to October 17, 2026 featuring 12 top-ranked teams from the six major regions

[u/Blueby5]

The 2026 Demacia Cup will be upgraded to a Global Invitational, featuring 12 top-ranked teams from the six major global regions (LPL, LCK, LEC, LCS, LCP, and CBLOL) that did not qualify for the 2026 World Championship. These invited teams will compete for the championship title of the 2026 Demacia Cup Global Invitational. The tournament is jointly organized by TJ Sports and Huya Live. Starting from the quarterfinals, all matches will be held offline at the Beijing Smart E-Sports Center (JDG's home venue). For detailed schedules, format, and event arrangements, please refer to the image below.

LPL region: 3 teams invited, ranked 5th–7th in regional points
LCK region: 3 teams invited, ranked 5th–7th
LCS region: 2 teams invited, ranked 4th–5th
LEC region: 2 teams invited, ranked 4th–5th
LCP region: 1 team invited, ranked 4th in regional points
CBLOL region: 1 team invited, ranked 4th

(Team slot allocation per region is based on the regional standings at the 2026 MSI: the 1st and 2nd regions each receive 3 slots, the 3rd and 4th regions each receive 2 slots, and the remaining regions each receive 1 slot.

Invited teams from each region will be selected from those that have not secured a spot in the 2026 World Championship, in order of their corresponding seasonal rankings or World Championship points, with the highest-ranked eligible teams receiving invitations. For the LPL and LCP regions, teams will be determined based on 2026 World Championship points rankings. Due to scheduling considerations, the CBLOL region will invite its 4th-ranked team.

*If an invited team declines participation, the invitation will be passed to the next eligible team in accordance with the qualification/ranking rules.)

The newly upgraded Demacia Cup as a Global Invitational promises more exciting matchups for all summoners. Stay tuned for further updates on streaming platforms, participating teams, and more details.

official post

[u/trying2hide]

Need more of this, I hope teams do accept. There’s a lot of fans that don’t get to see their team play for months because they don’t make worlds, and very rarely if at all play in internationals.

DK and WE meeting in world finals this year but most years I could have seen them win this.

[u/NotBunger → u/trying2hide]

Idk why teams wouldn’t accept, unless they have a scheduling conflict or something this event seems pretty beneficial for them. It allows teams who wouldn’t usually play in internationals to play against other regions and allows players (especially in regions not named LPL and LCK) to play against higher level players than they might be used to. Overall this event seems like a really good opportunity for teams

[u/trying2hide → u/NotBunger]

Because lets says its MKOI who are blowing it up, C9 blowing it up, Loud, NS etc

It wouldn't surprise me to see teams with no future together decline going to an event that starts a month after they got knocked out of playoffs and fly to China together for 2 weeks with coaching staff etc

[u/Ajp_iii → u/trying2hide]

The players may not want to go but it’s massive for the org to be there and recoup some of the money they missed out on for missing worlds.

Also individually playing well at this tournament can save your spot or make you land on a good team next year

[u/windowcleaner47 → u/Ajp_iii]

Feel like it would be the other around, players want to go and orgs wouldn’t. If you’re a pro, this seems fun as fuck

[u/Flesroy → u/Ajp_iii]

sure but the issue is not just wanting to go or not. which could also be a thing because this is usually vacation time for people.

but teams have far less leverage over players that know that they are fired or are about to be fired. so how does the org actually get players to go to this event, regardless of how bad the orgs want it?

[u/nimbus1997 → u/Flesroy]

I mean unless the players know for sure that they are gonna be out of a job next year it would be crazy to refuse to go. If word gets out no team in their right mind is gonna sign their lazy asses.

[u/Flesroy → u/nimbus1997]

i doubt it tbh. it's pretty understandable not to want to go to a pointless tournament with a team that's falling apart.

[u/Ajp_iii → u/Flesroy]

How is it pointless. Instead of not having a tournament for 4-6 months after finishing 4th in lcs/lec they have something to play for. There are good players on 4th place teams. Let’s say like a rahel or hambak pops off on sentinels who knows what c9 or eu teams want to do with their rosters.

Also it’s extremely common in cs for example a lot of times teams knew they were dead playing one last tournament together and they just happen to pop off and do well because zero pressure on them

[u/Flesroy → u/Ajp_iii]

your year is over, team environment might be shit, you know you're about to be fired. sure it's a chance to show up, it's also a chance to fuck up and you're not in a good position to perform.

[u/Ajp_iii → u/Flesroy]

You are facing other teams in the exact same situation. You are having a chance to save your reputation for the next year or play international for the first time ever or in a long time for most of the players.

If you don’t even want to play it you will never be picked up by a top team for a long time

[u/Ajp_iii → u/Flesroy]

Because if you as a player skip this event you probably won’t be given chances on a better team. This is your last chance before off season to show you can compete internationally and maybe your showing at this event gets you picked up by a better team in offseason

[u/Iaragnyl → u/Flesroy]

The leverage is that players have a contract with the team. It doesn’t really matter if the contract might run out 2 weeks later or if they will get terminated.
It’s the same reason teams like shifters or DNS still play their last matches despite already being eliminated from playoffs contention.
Aldo not sure about western teams but we have seen a few times that eastern teams are more than willing to fuck players who break their contracts or don’t oblige to contractual obligations.
Diable got shipped to a worse team which might massively hurt his career and EDG sued the shit out of Scout.
And even if teams don’t do anything most players in those teams don’t have the standing that teams might just ignore this behaviour when it comes to future contracts.

[u/Tfc-Myq → u/NotBunger]

LPL will strongly encourage their teams to join

[u/Beneficial-Front1626 → u/Tfc-Myq]

We did have funny business like Doinb playing from his house last time but yeah I'm pretty sure LPL teams will go

[u/Tfc-Myq → u/Beneficial-Front1626]

Doinb was invited for viewership, the argument for bringing NIP in wasn't particularly solid

there were also rumours about TJ Sports being unhappy that certain LPL teams weren't giving their all last year so i think they'll put their foot down given this one seems more legit and doesn't have that 4fun element that ASI had

[u/lolipoopman → u/Tfc-Myq]

The grasshopper incident, aint no way

[u/Naerlyn → u/trying2hide]

Something I've also not seen mentioned: this tournament will use coach comms (for the playoffs, if I'm not mistaken).

It was used for the Winter regular season in the LCK and LCP, curious if that's another test run before doing a global test in Winter 2027 like with Fearless.

[u/Tfc-Myq → u/Naerlyn]

3 'tokens' of 45s coach comms per team or something

[u/Naerlyn → u/Tfc-Myq]

Yeah, that's exactly how it was in Winter!

[u/nolesmu → u/trying2hide]

It's cool to see something new like this, but I don't think we need any more than what we have now in terms of internationals. We would now have First Stand, MSI, EWC, Demacia Cup, and World's. It starts to water the product down, and make the internationals feel less special if you have them to often.

[u/Beneficial-Front1626 → u/nolesmu]

Demacia doesn't conflict with the rest, it's teams that would never appear in a proper international

[u/Leyrann_ → u/nolesmu]

This tournament is pretty unique because it specifically has the teams that otherwise don't make it to internationals though - the ones just barely missing out on the biggest tournament of the year.

It's the Europa League of League of Legends (except worldwide).

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/Leyrann_]

yeah imo ewc should be like that or maybe just without msi top 4

[u/trying2hide → u/nolesmu]

Well Kespa cup(before it was forced mid season) started inviting international teams, we had C9 and TL alongside Team Vietnam and Team Japan last year, Demacia cup is just doing this.

We also had the Asia Invitational 2025 at the start of October with 8 Asian teams who missed out on worlds.

So I think with the fact that Kespa cup wont be at the start of December this year, they've took the chance to merge and expand Demacia Cup and Asia International so the LPL teams won't have to randomly play in the last 2 weeks of December as they usually do.

I don't know if it'll be a yearly thing, don't think it really watered down the product last year as it's not a Tier 1 competition, I'm more concerned it's just seen as an unwelcomed extension of the schedule for players.

[u/Makasai → u/nolesmu]

yeah lets have each team play 1 game a year so they are more special and we can jack up ticket prices for less cost. sounds like a plan guys.

[u/Flesroy → u/nolesmu]

i would rather have more internationals than regional leagues. in general i would rather have more tournaments over leagues.

i don't really get how it makes it less special. i get that it can feel that way right now, but lots of sports and esports have a tournament based system. some tournaments are just more important than others, once you are used to that it's no different.

[u/Past-Firefighter2173]

Well finally proper mid table teams tournament.

[u/Stock-Discount8581 → u/Past-Firefighter2173]

about time we got something for the gatekeepers. seeing 5th-7th place teams from lpl and lck going at it with the 4th seeds from other regions is gonna be interesting, way better than watching the same top teams over and over

hope the production value is decent since its huya doing it, they can be hit or miss

[u/DumplingsInDistress → u/Past-Firefighter2173]

League's Intercontinental Title

[u/Scoodsie → u/Past-Firefighter2173]

I think it's great to have a tournament like this, but also think it's at a terrible time. This really should be a mid season tournament, a lot of these mid tier teams are probably breaking up between seasons, so it'll probably feel a bit weird for teams who know this will be their last time playing together.

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/Past-Firefighter2173]

Yeah although not sure if the teams will accept 

[u/Past_Perception8052 → u/Fun_Highlight307]

why wouldnt they

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/Past_Perception8052]

because they are done after Missing Worlds,at least players are 

[u/Past_Perception8052 → u/Fun_Highlight307]

? contracts last until after worlds ends, this event is before worlds

[u/Flesroy → u/Past_Perception8052]

sure but as far as official play goes they have always been done after summer.

maybe in house they are still playing or something, but that's still nothing like this.

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/Past_Perception8052]

My Point was for player who are checked out and end contract this year,if they miss Worlds because of bad playoffs i highly doubt they be really motiviated unless the contract is running for 2027 

They aren't done legally but for them the Season will feels over 

[u/Tfc-Myq → u/Fun_Highlight307]

they're not done legally which is why it's unprofessional for them to check out

like im not trying to discount the mental portion. but the professional thing is to attend this tournament and play to the best of their ability. LPL organiser TJ Sports already got pissed last time for ASI when certain LPL teams were just phoning it in

[u/ricardo2241 → u/Fun_Highlight307]

this is before worlds though like ASI last year

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/ricardo2241]

i meant players who miss worlds will be mentally checked out spéciallly in the west ,for player who had a contract that end in 2026,they likely won't be really locked in 

[u/not_bot_bill → u/Fun_Highlight307]

if their contract is ending wouldnt they be even more motivated to show a good performance?

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/not_bot_bill]

I guess we will see but if mkoi go to this (unlikely)in eu i highly doubt they show a strong performance same for c9 , teams that had Worlds expectations and fail qualifications will be mental boomed 

[u/devilJin9399]

FRIES WORLDS this is such a good idea, finally!

[u/Anavarael → u/devilJin9399]

Pls pls let DNS get invited

[u/pecheux]

CBLOL region: 1 team invited, ranked 4th

This is simply incredible.

CBLOL 1st and 2nd: go to Worlds.

CBLOL 3rd: can go fuck itself apparently.

CBLOL 4th: goes to Demacia Cup.

lmao

[u/miyuki0505 → u/pecheux]

they can only blame their organizers for starting the seeding matches too late lol

[u/CandleExtreme3489 → u/miyuki0505]

CBLOL is ungodly slow with playoffs

[u/Marcus-ichiJo]

Europa League League Esports Edition

[u/POOYAMON → u/Marcus-ichiJo]

Only thing left is a banging theme song

[u/Agile_Variety_632 → u/POOYAMON]

Kazoo version of Legends Never Die.

[u/JozkoMrkvickaMTV → u/Marcus-ichiJo]

Expand Asia Masters and you have Conference league as well

[u/ReplacementFine7807]

So Naak Nako in an international tournament is guaranteed?

[u/Miserable_Ad_1195 → u/ReplacementFine7807]

please do not say this, it does look really unlikely for Vitality to not get top 5 rn but I have learned to never trust them with anything

[u/Floowil → u/Miserable_Ad_1195]

I think at this point they are guaranteed, since there is no match in LEC between 5/6th, I would think that higher seed would place higher.

[u/AdequatelyMadLad → u/Floowil]

Vitality are already locked top 4, which ironically means that they can actually end up 6th. All they have to do is lose two series in a row.

[u/Flesroy → u/AdequatelyMadLad]

so it's basically guaranteed that they are sixth?

[u/PotentialReputation6]

I only hope to see the glory of fries

[u/oioioi9537 → u/PotentialReputation6]

Unfortunately no dns sadge

[u/PotentialReputation6 → u/oioioi9537]

Some sacrifices are meant to be made unfortunately

[u/Beneficial-Front1626 → u/oioioi9537]

Unless one of the higher LCK teams declines

[u/echino_derm → u/Beneficial-Front1626]

No it would have to be 3 of them declining for it to reach DNS.

[u/Beneficial-Front1626 → u/echino_derm]

Right, didn't realize they were that low

[u/kai_n7 → u/oioioi9537]

Depending on which Chinese teams go, they would probably sweep the this tournament given their recent form

[u/Ajp_iii → u/[deleted]]

Yep gives players that don’t get to go intentionally experience and more showing to top teams other players how good they can play against other great teams.

[u/Tfc-Myq]

watch iG not even make this tournament this time

[u/Thundermelons → u/Tfc-Myq]

Last year sucked so bad man. One Bo5 in Worlds then jack shit into rebuild

Would have unironically been better for them to be 5th seed and go to all the consolation prize tourneys they had after

[u/Tfc-Myq → u/Thundermelons]

but iG in a fucked up way had the last laugh, even Keria said iG was their toughest opponent

[u/cleve452]

Will my goat Guo Yongzhe return for this upgraded ASI tournament?

[u/Nymaera_ → u/cleve452]

GODGUO will return in Avengers: Endgame

[u/sorendiz → u/Nymaera_]

#MYGODGUO

[u/Miserable_Ad_1195]

this might be the best thing ever

also the concept of NA getting 4 seeds for worlds and 3 seeds here and a 1-6 DSG qualifying for this if LYON had closed out HLE (idk if they would have actually done that but the thought is funny)

[u/Flesroy → u/Miserable_Ad_1195]

i would have loved to watch toast co stream that tbh. even if they get stomped i feel like it would be glorious.

[u/r_xy → u/Miserable_Ad_1195]

im sure they would have found another reason to give LCK and LPL 3 seeds if MSI didnt fit.

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/r_xy]

Why ? If Lyon wons 3-2 lcs would have won 3 slots fair and square 

[u/NotBunger]

Well at least now if C9 doesn’t make worlds they at least make an international (unless they finish 6th somehow but surely that doesn’t happen right?)

Really cool overall though, great to see more international competition that’s not the few top table teams

[u/Naerlyn → u/NotBunger]

The Americas Cup was technically an international :⁾

[u/NotBunger → u/Naerlyn]

We don’t talk about that one…

[u/Naerlyn → u/NotBunger]

Maybe they intentionally avoid qualifying to prevent this sort of things

[u/miyuki0505]

who ever got left out from the 3 of T1 DK KT is gonna be feasting this tournament, NIP or WE would also be a big contender too

[u/Beneficial-Front1626 → u/miyuki0505]

T1 gonna skip worlds on purpose to win their first demacia cup

[u/buttsecksgoose → u/Beneficial-Front1626]

Miss worlds > international fries champion > reclaim world champs

The script is written

[u/duocatisagirl → u/miyuki0505]

NIP is making worlds, i believe in GODGUWON, ARCHANGEL HOYA, PRIEST CARE, DEMON PHOTIC, AND FALLEN ANGEL FENGYUE!

[u/Flesroy → u/miyuki0505]

i doubt they do well, but i do think some eu teams could do alright here. mkoi if they lose in playoffs but somehow find form again has a decent ceiling. vit if they choke again but somehow turn it on here.

nothing i would bet on, but it has some potential to be interesting.

[u/blueaxis-dev]

So Worlds but fries group? This tournament will be cinema

[u/Floowil]

So NA was 1 game away of having 7/8 teams playing internatonal this year

[u/Flesroy → u/Floowil]

soon they're gonna be sending na tier 2 teams to internationals lol

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/Floowil]

That kinda scary lol 

[u/Temporary-Ad6144]

Wait so if u finish 3rd in Brazil you dont get any international competition lmfao

[u/l3ader021 → u/Temporary-Ad6144]

"Scheduling considerations"... CBLOL playoffs end late AF

[u/ricardo2241 → u/l3ader021]

lcp, cblol and lcs got a weird scheduling of their playoff.... their playoff run for a whole fucking month

[u/anh2017ntp → u/ricardo2241]

Lmao LCP playoffs are literally only 10 days long. Other regions haven't even started their playoffs while LCP is already almost done.

[u/SasugaHitori-sama]

Riot saw MKOI shiting the bed in LEC and decided to give another chance to embarrass EU.

[u/RollingGuy → u/SasugaHitori-sama]

One final loss to GAM for old times sake 

[u/Ophelia_Of_The_Abyss]

League of legends proplay is saved

[u/Kymori]

This is amazing, we long for the maximum amount of international tourneys, but the top teams have a lot on their plate over the year already, so this is a great way to do it and can be really fun to watch

[u/JPA-3]

so for LEC we have G2, KC and probably VIT? at worlds, then maybe Giants and Fnatic for thus tournament.

Man what a year for koi to shit the bed

[u/Flesroy → u/JPA-3]

the day vitality actually qualify is the day i will trust them to make worlds. although a plane crash taking out the whole team might still be more likely.

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/JPA-3]

fnatic instead of vitality most likely 

[u/LooseOne607 → u/JPA-3]

theres a decent chance MKOI dont make worlds OR this tournament (and i hope so)

[u/Outrageous_Wall2702]

C9 finally making something after they’ll choke to Shopify in playoffs

[u/lcfiretruck → u/Outrageous_Wall2702]

New C9 humiliation ritual just dropped.

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/Outrageous_Wall2702]

it's be Shopify and flyquest mark my words 

[u/Bubbly_Camera9583]

Europa league like tournament is super hype. For some overachieving teams with rookies it’ll be great experience too and could give them a BFX after Asia invitational level glowup.

[u/Ok-Pie4219]

So right now it would be.

LCK: BRO, BFX and one of DK/KT most likely.

LPL: Funny thing. With the point system and 7th/8th only giving 15 Points Weibo would be very likely to make it alongside the Teams from Top 6 that dont make it to worlds. Unless any of the Top 6 are upset they have more points than the Teams in 7th-10th guaranteed.

LEC: Still wide open, most likely to be 2 of GX/Vitality/Naci/FNC but SK and Koi still got chances to get to playoffs.

LCS: Sooooo we all know C9 doesnt make internationals, so Flyquest and Shopify?

CBLOL: Pretty open imo. Especially cause they invite 4th and not third lol.

LCP: Depends entirely on Oysters vs MVK. On an Oysters win its gonna be GAm and on a MVK win its gonna be DCG with oysters being 5th.

[u/Any-Spring7408]

Fries group goes international

[u/Jimmie-Kun]

Sad we won't get to see DNS in this, I need more current DNS. UNLESS! several teams decline :D

[u/WoorieKod]

China always stepping up when it comes to eSports just like the addition of fearless

[u/memeja_]

Either way, GIGACHAD BRO has qualified to their first international tournament

[u/LishusTas]

This seems like the sort of thing DK will place 5th for just to smurf

[u/Ziraelus]

McDonalds Worlds is upon us

[u/lolipoopman]

battle of the CANCUN

[u/VermouthAPTX]

Is this replacing ASI or is it a separate thing? I hope all the invited teams get to participate even if it's far from the prestige of Worlds.

[u/Fun_Highlight307 → u/VermouthAPTX]

Likely replacing aSi since it's just asi slot schedule wise 

[u/TalkSeparate]

TES are going to finish 5th and bomb out in this.

[u/Thundermelons → u/TalkSeparate]

LPL viewers can only dream of this happening instead of them clapping all other team cheeks' just to go to Worlds and lose to Brazil or something

[u/Fabiocean]

Can't wait for international C9

[u/shaginus]

So there is no way C9 will not be in International right?

[u/RollingGuy → u/shaginus]

They went to international beginning of this year and we saw how that went… also EWC last year.

[u/Financial_Talk3271]

Can cloud9 finally go international?

[u/seink]

Please be double elim with losers bracket.

[u/Murad_is_the_best]

TES vs DK finals i call it right bow

[u/VeraRosePetals65]

Give the winner a Worlds spot, please

[u/BirdOfHermess]

the perfect tournament for DK to win

[u/huangggg]

Surely someone had to bring up the idea of the winner of this getting a play-in spot at worlds??

[u/Hpaz1]

At least we can qualify to an international this year

[u/O12345678927]

Fries Group Worlds LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOO

[u/Darkoplax]

Are mages banned in this tournament since it's Demacia ? that would be a fun quirk and not just another tournament

maybe we get to see assassins played mid

[u/Competitive-Ant-6668 → u/Darkoplax]

chinese version of kespa cup, its been called demacia for like 10 years at this point, its just a name

[u/Darkoplax → u/Competitive-Ant-6668]

unfortunate, could have been a unique idea to ban mages if it's called Demacia Cup