Riot changes how teams qualify for the LCP in 2027

Riot Games is changing how teams qualify for the League of Legends Championship Pacific in 2027, with every team beginning each split in its domestic competition. Teams from the PCS, VCS, and LJL will then compete for places in the LCP, which will become the regional bracket stage for APAC. 

The LCP will still be APAC’s only route to international events, but teams will spend more of each split competing in their home leagues.

Under the new structure, teams will first compete in the PCS, VCS, or LJL depending on their home region. The best performers from those competitions will advance to the LCP later in each split.

That is a major change from the current system. Domestic teams currently have one opportunity each year to reach the LCP through the Promotion Series.

Starting in 2027, every team in the three domestic leagues will have an opportunity to qualify for the LCP each split. Riot has not yet announced how many places each league will receive or the exact qualification format.

Riot says the LCP will remain the highest level of regional competition in APAC and the only route to global League of Legends events. The difference is that the LCP will now bring together the strongest teams from domestic competition instead of operating as their full-time league. 

Wild Card regions will also keep a route into the LCP, although Riot has not yet detailed how those qualifiers will work. Tournament organizers will be able to apply to run Wild Card competitions connected directly to the LCP system.

Riot says one reason for the change is the cost of requiring LCP teams to relocate to Taipei. The current setup has increased expenses while keeping players away from their home regions for long periods.

Returning teams to domestic leagues should allow them to spend more time competing in front of local audiences. Riot also expects organizations to have more opportunities to work with local fans and partners. The publisher said the previous format improved regional competition but did not solve every sustainability problem it was designed to address.

Riot will continue providing Regional Global Revenue Pool payments to existing LCP teams in 2027. Teams that earn promotion or successfully defend their places through the upcoming Promotion Series will also keep access to that support.

Domestic teams that qualify for global events will become eligible for Global Event GRP payments as well. Riot has not yet announced how many LCP slots will go to the PCS, VCS, LJL, or Wild Card regions. The full 2027 competition format will be revealed later.