The First Stand 2026 is the first international League of Legends tournament of the year. Eight of the best teams in the world will compete in Brazil from March 16 to March 22, with a $1,000,000 prize pool and a crucial MSI 2026 advantage on the line.
What is First Stand 2026?
First Stand takes place between the first and second splits of every major region. It brings together the top teams from Korea, China, EMEA, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Brazil to compete for the First Stand title. Think of it as the first major test of the year — where regional champions clash on the international stage before MSI.
Format
First Stand uses a two-stage format across all matches played as best of five.
Stage 1 is a Group Stage where the eight teams are split into two groups of four. Each group features one Pool 1 team, two Pool 2 teams, and one Pool 3 team, with no two teams from the same region in the same group. Groups play a double elimination bracket, with the top two teams from each group advancing.
Stage 2 is a single elimination Knockout Stage where the four remaining teams battle for the title.
One unique rule sets First Stand apart from other tournaments: Hard Fearless Draft. Each champion can only be picked once by either team during the entire series. This forces teams to constantly adapt their drafts and makes every game feel fresh.
What’s at Stake Beyond the Prize Pool?
Winning First Stand isn’t just about the money. The winning region earns a direct bye into the MSI 2026 Bracket Stage, skipping Play-Ins entirely. That’s a massive competitive advantage heading into one of the most important tournaments of the year.
Prize Pool Breakdown
The full $1,000,000 is distributed as follows:
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $250,000 |
| 2nd | $150,000 |
| 3rd – 4th | $125,000 each |
| 5th – 6th | $100,000 each |
| 7th – 8th | $75,000 each |
The Teams
Eight teams qualified through their regional tournaments:
| Region | Team | How they qualified |
|---|---|---|
| Korea | Gen.G | LCK Cup 2026 Champion |
| Korea | BNK FearX | LCK Cup 2026 Runner-Up |
| China | TBD | LPL 2026 Split 1 Champion |
| China | Bilibili Gaming / JDG | LPL 2026 Split 1 Runner-Up |
| EMEA | G2 Esports | LEC 2026 Versus Playoffs Champion |
| Asia-Pacific | Team Secret Whales | LCP 2026 Split 1 Champion |
| North America | LYON | LCS 2026 Lock-In Champion |
| Brazil | LOUD | CBLOL Cup 2026 Champion |
When and Where?
First Stand 2026 takes place offline in Brazil from March 16 to March 22, 2026, organized by Riot Games. As the host country, Brazil’s representative LOUD will have home crowd advantage — which could play a big role in the tournament.
Why Should You Watch?
First Stand is one of the most exciting formats in competitive LoL. Best of five matches, Hard Fearless Draft, and top international competition make every series unpredictable. With Gen.G entering as heavy favorites after their LCK Cup dominance, and G2 representing EMEA after winning LEC Versus, the storylines are already set up perfectly.
Can LOUD use the home advantage to go deep? Will Gen.G assert Korean dominance from the start? Find out starting March 16th.
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