While all eyes are on Worlds 2026, there’s another international League of Legends tournament starting next month in the Demacia Cup.
The Demacia Cup Global Invitational is a new esports event that sees all the teams that narrowly missed out on Worlds compete.
Demacia Cup 2026 will feature LCK, LPL, LEC, LCS, LCP, and CBLOL teams ranging from 4th place to 7th place in their respective regions.
Here is everything you need to know about the first-ever Demacia Cup Global Invitational.
Demacia Cup Global Invitational 2026 Format
The 12-team tournament will begin with a Swiss Stage format with games played online.
In Round 1, teams will be randomly drawn against each other to compete in a best-of-one, with the rule that two teams from the same region can’t meet in the first match.
From there, teams will be matched with teams of equal records for a best-of-three. There won’t be protection from same-region match-ups anymore, but teams won’t be able to play each other twice in the Swiss.
Once a team has won two matches, they will advance to the Knockout Stage.
Meanwhile, the three teams that go 0-2 will have to play a single round robin, facing each other once in best-of-threes, to decide who survives.
Two teams will be eliminated, and the one winner of that round robin will join the three 1-1 teams for one more best-of-three. The two winners of those matches will secure the final spots in the Knockouts.
A total of eight teams will compete in the offline Knockouts in the classic format of a single-elimination bracket of best-of-fives.
The bracket will be decided by a random draw with no regional protection.
Demacia Cup Schedule
The tournament will begin October 3 with the online Group Stage (Swiss) lasting until October 8.
Next, the Knockout stages will last between October 12 and October 15 as the tournament moves to offline play.
And then the first-ever Demacia Cup Global Invitational winner will be crowned in the Grand Final on October 17.
Start times and broadcast information have not yet been confirmed.
Demacia Cup 2026 Teams
Most of the teams for the Demacia Cup Global Invitational 2026 have already been decided, with just the Americas left to decide.
Unsurprisingly, the LCK are the favoured region to win the Demacia Cup, with 75% of Polymarket users selecting it.
Because of the CBLOL Playoffs’ late finish, Brazil’s third seed won’t be decided until after the Demacia Cup starts.
So Brazil will send its fourth seed instead.
The complete list of participating teams is:
- LCK 5th seed – KT Rolster
- LCK 6th seed – BNK FEARX
- LCK 7th seed – HANJIN BRION
- LPL 5th seed – JD Gaming
- LPL 6th seed – Team WE
- LPL 7th seed – LGD Gaming
- LEC 4th seed – Natus Vincere
- LEC 5th seed – Team Vitality
- LCS 4th seed – TBD
- LCS 5th seed – TBD
- LCP 4th seed – GAM Esports
- CBLOL 4th seed – CBLOL
Who do you think will win the Demacia Cup 2026? Share your predictions with us on the Insider Gaming Discord.
Meanwhile, the LEC has dropped its wage cap and plans to lower it further in 2029. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
An esports journalist for nine years with a focus on LoL Jack has written for national newspapers, interviewed major names, and driven people mad with puns. He's most proud of…
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