League Classic MSI 2026 Showmatch: How to Watch

Riot Games has an extra surprise for MSI 2026 viewers: a League Classic showmatch will unveil the mode in its full glory. Here’s everything to know about the event, what it includes, and how fans can watch.

Riot Games is Hosting a League Classic Showmatch at MSI

On July 11, 2026, Riot Games confirmed it will host a showmatch before the MSI 2026 Grand Finals between Bilibili Gaming (BLG) and Hanwha Life Esports (HLE). The competition will feature the game’s upcoming League Classic mode, which brings LoL back to one of its earliest versions in a blast to the past.

In addition, the showmatch will include some of League’s most famous ex-pros. They will meet in two teams, battling onstage at the host arena:

Team Baron

• Zz1tai
• Ambition
• Scarra
• Doublelift
• WeiXiao

Team Dragon

• sOAZ
• Levi
• PawN
• Cpt Jack
• YellOwStaR

What is League Classic?

Riot Games announced a new League of Legends game mode on July 26: League Classic. This mode returns the game to one of its earliest patches, fully revamping the Rift and completely changing many Champions.

Leaks from accounts like @LeagueofLeaks suggest the mode will bring back old mechanics, runes, and items on the game’s original map. A callback to Heart of Gold, an item removed back in 2012, hints that the mode will likely center on the 2009 to 2013 stretch of the game’s history.

Once live, League Classic will run as a Featured Game Mode with its own separate queue. Dataminers, including @SkinSpotlights, have uncovered additional details pointing to features like a dedicated Battlepass, a Summoner leveling system that caps at level 30, Influence Points, original Runes and Mastery trees, a Token System, and community voting. Early findings suggest a starting roster of around 60 champions, a fraction of the 173 currently in the game, with Urgot and Master Yi already confirmed to appear.

Riot developer Meddler also weighed in on Reddit after fans asked about specific throwback abilities, like old Fiddlesticks and his bouncing crow, or Swain’s bird laser ultimate. While Meddler avoided going into detail on exact kits for now, he confirmed that classic gameplay versions of champions are indeed part of the plan, with more reveals expected in the coming month.

Riot Games has not yet revealed when League Classic will release. It may enter a PBE before fully integrating into the game. Stay tuned for future info, since we’ll update this when the studio announces a formal date.

For a full explainer, check out our in-depth guide here.

How to Watch the League Classic MSI 2026 Showmatch

The League Classic MSI 2026 Showmatch will broadcast on most official League of Legends esports channels. Riot Games hosts an official website here. In addition, fans can follow the event on YouTube and Twitch:

• twitch.tv/riotgames
• youtube.com/@lolesports

When is the League Classic MSI 2026 Showmatch?

The League Classic showmatch starts on Sunday, July 12 2026 at 15:00 KST. Here’s a quick time zone conversion for viewers in other locations:

• PST: 11 PM (previous day)
• EST: 2 AM
• Brazil: 3 AM
• BST: 7 AM
• CEST: 8 AM
• KST/JST: 3 PM

Stay tuned for more League of Legends esports and in-game news.