Brazil’s premier League of Legends championship, CBLOL, will implement a significantly expanded, three-stage competitive format in 2026, dramatically increasing the number of matches and linking each stage winner to a distinct international tournament.
The LoL Esports team, part of Riot Games, announced the extensive overhaul on Wednesday. It introduces a new competitive structure for the Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends.
These changes are projected to boost the total number of matches by 57% compared to the 2025 Split 1 season. Riot Games described the increase as beneficial for both professional players seeking international opportunities and for dedicated fans.
The 2026 season is scheduled to commence on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 1:00 PM BrasÃlia time (UTC-3).
The new format begins with the “Copa CBLOL,” a distinct first stage. Its champion will earn a spot at the “First Stand” tournament, hosted in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Copa CBLOL’s initial phase will feature three weeks of best-of-one matches where all nine participating teams face each other. This setup allows teams to adapt to the new season and test their rosters.
The top four teams from this regular phase advance directly to the playoffs. An “Entry Phase” featuring Fearless Draft will decide the final two playoff spots among the fifth through eighth-ranked teams.
Following the Copa CBLOL, the second and third stages of the 2026 season will determine representatives for major international events. The Stage 2 winner will qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).
The champion of Stage 3 will secure a coveted berth at the League of Legends World Championship 2026. These stages will largely retain the LTA 2025 format but with critical updates.
Key modifications for Stage 2 and 3 include single round-robin best-of-three matches with Fearless Draft. Playoffs for these stages will shift to best-of-five series, also utilizing Fearless Draft, and the Cross-Conference format will be eliminated.
The nine teams announced for the CBLOL 2026 season are Fluxo, W7M, FURIA, Isurus Gaming, Leviatán, LOUD, paiN Gaming, RED Canids Kalunga, and Vivo Keyd Stars.