If you’re a diehard League of Legends fan, you know the end of the year only means one thing: Worlds. It’s the biggest esports event on the calendar, drawing hundreds of millions of viewers across the globe to watch the top 22 LoL teams fight for the Summoner’s Cup. If you’ve been asking when is League of Legends Worlds 2024, we’ve got all the official details, plus extra tips to make this year’s tournament the best one you’ve ever watched. We’ve pulled info directly from Riot’s official announcements, plus added insights from years of covering LoL esports events to cut through all the unconfirmed rumors floating around social media.
When is League of Legends Worlds 2024? Exact Dates and Tournament Stages
Riot officially announced the full 2024 Worlds timeline back in March, so there’s no more guessing around start and end dates. The tournament runs for just under two months, split into four distinct stages that build up to the grand final. Play-in stages run from September 25 to October 4, featuring 10 lower-seeded regional teams fighting for just 2 spots in the main tournament. Play-ins are a great chance to see underdog teams pull off massive upsets, so don’t skip these matches if you love chaotic, high-stakes LoL.
Next up is the Swiss stage, running from October 7 to October 20. This is the second year Riot is using the Swiss format for the main Worlds group stage, after massive fan praise for the 2023 iteration. The 16 teams in the Swiss stage play until they have 3 wins (to advance to knockouts) or 3 losses (to go home), so every match matters, even in the first week. The knockout stages start with quarterfinals from October 24 to 27, then semifinals on November 2 and 3, before the grand final on November 16.
Host Cities and Venues for 2024 LoL Worlds
For 2024, Riot is taking Worlds back to Europe for the first time since 2021, with three different host cities across the continent. Play-ins and the Swiss stage will be held in Berlin, Germany, at the Riot Games Arena, which is the permanent home of the LEC. Quarterfinals and semifinals will move to Paris, France, at the Accor Arena, a 20,000-seat venue that regularly hosts major esports and music events. The grand final will be held in London, UK, at the O2 Arena, one of the most iconic indoor venues in the world.
All 2024 Worlds venues have fully accessible seating options and dedicated fan zones for pre and post-match meetups. If you’re planning to attend in person, you don’t have to worry about missing out on extra perks just because you’re not sitting in the most expensive seats. Riot has confirmed the following perks for all in-person ticket holders, no matter what ticket tier you buy:
- Exclusive in-game Worlds 2024 skin drops for anyone who scans their ticket at venue entry
- Limited-edition team merch only available on-site at each host city
- Live Q&A sessions with pro players and Riot devs before main stage matches each day
- Free snack and drink vouchers for anyone who purchases a 3-day or full stage pass
Tickets went on sale in mid-July, and most tiers for the finals and semifinal matches are already sold out. You can still find resale tickets on official partner sites, but make sure you only buy from verified sellers to avoid getting scammed. Riot has warned that any tickets bought from unapproved third-party sites won’t be accepted for entry, and won’t qualify for the in-game drops either.
How to Watch Worlds 2024 From Anywhere, No Blackouts
If you can’t make it to Europe for in-person matches, you don’t have to miss a second of the action. All matches will be streamed for free on official LoL Esports channels on Twitch, YouTube, and the Riot Games mobile app. Official streams will have 12 different language options, including English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, and French, so you can watch in your preferred language no matter where you are.
Blackouts can be a problem if you’re traveling outside your home region during the tournament, but there’s an easy fix. A reliable VPN will let you connect to a server in your home country, so you can access your usual stream without any restrictions. Just make sure you connect to the VPN before you open the stream page, to avoid getting hit with a blackout notice.
You can also watch co-streams from your favorite LoL content creators, as long as they’re approved by Riot. Most big LoL streamers have already confirmed they’ll be co-streaming all major matches, so you can watch with commentary that feels more casual than the official broadcast. Drops are enabled on all official and approved co-stream channels, so you’ll still earn free in-game loot like icons, emotes, and even Worlds skins just by tuning in.
Key Teams to Watch This Worlds Season
Every Worlds has its fair share of favorites and dark horses, and 2024 is no exception. The clear top favorite going into the tournament is T1, the LCK representative led by Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, who is looking to win his 5th Worlds title. T1 holds the record for the most Worlds titles, with 4 wins across 10 years of competition, and they’re coming off a dominant win in the 2024 LCK Summer Split. They looked almost unbeatable in the second half of the year, so it’ll take a huge performance to knock them out.
Another top contender is JD Gaming, the LPL representative who won the 2024 MSI tournament in May. They’ve been the most consistent team in the LPL all year, with an aggressive playstyle that catches a lot of slower, more methodical teams off guard. The LEC’s home team G2 Esports is also one to watch, as they always perform well when Worlds is held in Europe. They’ve already won both the LEC Spring and Summer splits this year, so they have a ton of momentum going into the tournament.
Don’t sleep on the underdog teams either, especially Cloud9 from the LCS and PSG Talon from the PCS. Both teams have pulled off massive upsets at international events before, and the Swiss format gives them way more chances to play against top teams early on. The 2024 Worlds prize pool is expected to surpass $5 million, with 40% going to the winning team, so every team will be playing their absolute hardest every single match.
If you’ve been scouring the internet for details on when is League of Legends Worlds 2024, you now have all the key dates, viewing tips, and team context to make this your most fun Worlds season yet. Whether you’re watching from your couch with friends, or heading to one of the host cities to watch in person, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved. Mark the dates on your calendar, grab your favorite team’s jersey, and get ready for two months of the best League of Legends play you’ll see all year.