A look at some of our plans for League after 2026

In a video announcement, Riot Games executive producer Paul Belleza and Head of League Studio Andrei van Roon detailed plans for significant updates to League of Legends post-2026. They explicitly denied developing League of Legends 2, countering rumors from Bloomberg and Chinese esports insiders suggesting a sequel as early as late 2026. Instead, the team is working on a massive revamp comparable to the mid-2010s graphical update, aimed at attracting new players. Key features include a brand-new around-game client fully integrated with the in-game experience, eliminating the separate launcher; a complete visual overhaul of Summoner's Rift with some new gameplay elements; changes to the rune system; and a comprehensive improvement to the overall player experience, particularly for newcomers. The goal is to make it 'the best time ever to get your friends into League.' More details will be shared between MSI in summer 2026 and Worlds in fall 2026, with the update likely launching during the competitive off-season from late November to early January. This follows reports of internal project 'League Next' focusing on visual aesthetics for characters, arenas, and interface.