On the morning of November 14 (KST), Riot Games shared various updates regarding international LoL Esports events for 2027 during the 2026 LoL World Championship (Worlds) Finals media day. The most eye-catching piece of news was that the 2027 World Championship, which was originally scheduled to take place in South Korea, will now be co-hosted with Japan.
The 2027 World Championship is scheduled to hold its Swiss Stage in Nagoya, Japan, followed by the Quarterfinals and Semifinals in Suwon, South Korea, and the Finals in Seoul. Japan is by no means an entirely barren region for League of Legends. In the past, a team called DFM put up notable performances in international tournaments, and 'Evi', one of Japan's most iconic players, gained considerable popularity through his signature gestures and showmanship.
However, Japanese teams' recent results have not been as strong as in the past. Nevertheless, according to Riot Games, LoL Esports in Japan continues to grow steadily. In this context, assigning the Swiss Stage to Nagoya, Japan, is viewed as a move to test the potential of the local market. Regardless of how much a region is growing, hosting Worlds—the largest and most prestigious tournament in LoL—primarily in Japan would be impractical.
A Riot Games representative stated, "Riot Games has consistently strived to allow players and fans around the world to experience world-class LoL Esports live in person. This decision is also intended to expand the foundation of LoL Esports in Japan, where the LoL community has been growing recently, and to give local fans the opportunity to experience the World Championship firsthand.
We fully understand that this decision may come as a disappointment to Korean fans, but we expect that providing a top-tier esports experience to more global fans will, in the long run, contribute to the growth of LoL Esports and have a positive impact on fans worldwide."
With the World Championship—originally slated for South Korea—expanding to be co-hosted with Japan, curiosity naturally turned toward LCK's overseas roadshows. After successfully hosting the LCK Cup in Hong Kong this year, the LCK previously expressed its intention to reach out to more global fans whenever future opportunities arise.
Regarding this, a Riot representative stated, "We held the 2026 LCK Cup Finals in Hong Kong for the first time, and through the enthusiastic response from local fans, we were able to reaffirm the global popularity of the LCK once again. While it is difficult to disclose detailed plans for next year's roadshow at this time, we will actively make use of various opportunities to deliver new experiences to our fans."
