LoLEsportsRiot Games Announces Big NLC Changes in 2027
Riot Games has announced a major regional change that will split the NLC in 2027.
The NLC is adding eight teams to its 2026 Summer Split. Image Credits: @NLClol via X.com
The NLC is making significant changes, splitting the tournament in 2027 and doubling the team pool’s size. Let’s explore everything we know about the update and how it will affect League of Legends esports.
The NLC Will Split in 2027
On July 8, 2026, Riot Games announced significant restructures for the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC). The changes will split the region into two European Regional Leagues (ERLs).
— NLC – Northern League of Legends Championship (@NLClol) July 8, 2026
The upcoming ERLs will cover the following regions:
- UK and Ireland
- Nordics
More National Teams in the NLC 2026 Summer Split
In addition to the ERL separation, the NLC is already making some changes to the 2026 Summer Split. This event’s Swiss Stage phase will begin on July 20, so it’s coming up soon. According to an article release, the NLC is adding eight additional National teams to the tournament. These participants have qualified from:
- UK Esports League (United Kingdom)
- LOL DK Ligaen (Denmark)
- Finnish Pro League (Finland)
- Komplettligaen (Norway)
- RIVALS LEAGUE (Sweden)
Since the NLC already has eight team slots, this will double the team pool’s size. The NLC explained the reasoning behind this decision: “In this split, we want to showcase the amazing structure that already exists one step below the NLC level: the national leagues.”
Sweden and Norway will each receive two slots. Each other country’s league will earn one. Finally, a Last Chance Qualifier will determine one more participant from Finland, Denmark, or the UK/Ireland.
NLC 2026 Summer Split Format Changes
These new national teams will compete against existing NLC contestants in the 2026 Summer Split. Riot Games explains the format:
“When the Summer Split starts, the eight NLC teams + eight national league teams will play a modified Swiss bracket. All matches in this bracket will be best of three. In the first round, the eight NLC teams will each play against a national league team. After that, the winners will get matched against other winners and losers against other losers.
If a team has won two rounds, they will be able to play a qualifier match. This will be a match against another two-win team. The winner of this match qualifies for the playoffs. Conversely, if a team loses two rounds, they will have to play an elimination match. The loser of this match will be eliminated from the NLC Summer Split.
In the end, eight teams will make it to the playoffs. There they will play a double elimination bracket, giving each team an extra chance to win the tournament.”
NLC 2026 Summer Split Schedule
The tournament will occur from July 20 to September 16. Here’s a more in-depth summary:
- Swiss Stage: July 20 – August 17
- Playoffs Begin: August 19
- Upper Bracket Finals: September 7
- Lower Bracket Finals: September 14
- Grand Finals: September 16
What Does This Mean for League of Legends Esports?
The new NLC changes bolster UK and Nordic presence in the sport, which is traditionally dominated by Asia-Pacific teams. They also give a wider variety of countries chances to compete at a higher B-Tier level.
Notably, the NLC’s Summer Split winners qualify for EMEA Masters Summer. This A-Tier event is highly prestigious. Including more national teams in the NLC helps streamline their progression pathways.
Stay tuned for more League of Legends esports and in-game news. Make sure to also check out our guide to the LEC 2026 Summer Finals.