Riot Games will divide the 2027 League of Legends World Championship between Japan and South Korea, with the tournament beginning in Nagoya and ending in Seoul. The host locations were announced on 14 November 2026 as part of Riot’s plans for the 2027 League of Legends esports season.
The Swiss Stage will take place in Nagoya, Japan, although Riot has not announced a specific venue for that portion of the competition. The move makes Japan part of the World Championship for the first time, while South Korea will host the later stages of the event.
“Japan has a passionate and growing League of Legends community, and we're excited to give Japanese fans the opportunity to experience the world's biggest League of Legends competition in person,” Riot Games said.
Knockout rounds will be held in South Korea
After the Swiss Stage, the tournament will move to South Korea for the knockout rounds. The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for the Suwon Convention Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do. The championship match is scheduled to take place at Seoul Arena in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul.
The 2027 event will be the first League of Legends World Championship co-hosted by Japan and South Korea. It will also be the first time that Japan stages part of the game's global championship. For players and fans in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, the announced venues place every stage of the tournament within East Asia, although Riot’s announcement concerns host locations rather than ticketing, broadcast schedules or regional access.
- Swiss Stage: Nagoya, Japan
- Quarterfinals and semifinals: Suwon Convention Center, Suwon, South Korea
- Final: Seoul Arena, Seoul, South Korea
Riot is also reviewing the opening of the Worlds path
Riot is considering a change to the tournament structure that could replace the Worlds Play-In Stage with the Demacia Cup. The proposal is intended to potentially create more best-of-series matches and additional opportunities for teams competing for a place at Worlds. The plan has not been finalized.
The 2027 World Championship will be the first edition held in South Korea since 2023. That year’s final was played at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome. For the 2027 edition, Riot has instead scheduled the knockout rounds in Suwon before moving the final to Seoul Arena, a specialized performance venue currently under construction.
The announcement arrives ahead of the 2026 Worlds final, which is scheduled for 15 November 2026 and will feature Gen.G against Bilibili Gaming. The 2027 host plan gives teams, leagues and fans an early view of the next international championship’s regional layout, while the possible Play-In replacement remains under review.
