If you're a diehard League of Legends fan, the annual World Championship is the highlight of your gaming calendar. Every year, the best teams from across the globe fight for the Summoner's Cup, and millions of fans tune in either in person or from home to catch all the action. If you've been asking where is worlds 2024 league of legends taking place, you're in the right place. We've pulled together every confirmed detail about host locations, schedules, tickets, and fan experiences to help you plan for this year's event.
Where is Worlds 2024 League of Legends Taking Place? Full Breakdown of Host Cities
Riot Games confirmed earlier this year that 2024 Worlds will be hosted across three major European cities, spread across three different countries for easier access for fans across the region. The event moves between locations as it progresses through different competitive stages, so you'll need to plan your travel carefully if you want to catch multiple stages of the tournament. Play-in stage runs from September 25 to October 4 in Berlin, Germany, at Riot's dedicated esports arena in the city center. This stage is for lower-seed regional teams fighting for a spot in the main tournament, and it's usually the most unpredictable part of Worlds, with plenty of underdog upsets. Next, the Swiss stage moves to Paris, France, at the brand-new Adidas Arena, running from October 7 to October 20. This is the first stage of the main tournament, with all the top seeded teams joining the winners from the play-in round. The quarterfinals and semifinals, AKA the knockout stage, will be held at London's O2 Arena in the UK from October 27 to November 3. The grand final, the biggest match of the entire year, returns to Paris at the Accor Arena, with a capacity of over 20,000 fans in attendance. Riot picked these three cities for their large existing LoL fan bases, excellent transport links between countries, and world-class event venues that can handle the huge demand for tickets.
Key Match Stages and Schedule Details You Need to Plan For
Unlike some smaller esports tournaments, Worlds runs for over six weeks total, with multiple matches every week across all stages. 16 teams total qualify for the tournament from 9 regional leagues across the world, including LEC (Europe), LCS (North America), LPL (China), and LCK (Korea). The play-in stage has 8 lower-seed teams fighting for 2 spots in the main Swiss stage, while the other 14 teams get direct entry to the Swiss stage based on their regional performance. The Swiss stage uses a unique format where teams with the same win-loss record play each other, until 8 teams are left to move on to the knockout stage. The knockout stage is single elimination, so one loss means a team is out of the running for the Summoner's Cup. The 2024 Worlds grand final will be held on November 2 in Paris, with pre-show events starting three hours before the match kicks off. All matches will be broadcast in multiple languages, and start times are scheduled to be as accessible as possible for global viewers, though some East Asian and North American fans will have to wake up early or stay up late to catch live matches. Riot will release the full daily match schedule two weeks before the play-in stage starts, so you can mark your calendar for your favorite team's games as soon as the details drop.
How to Get Tickets and Make the Most of Your In-Person Experience
Tickets for Worlds sell out in minutes every year, so you need to be prepared if you want to secure a spot to watch matches in person. Ticket prices vary depending on the stage and seat location, with play-in general admission tickets starting at around €25 per day, Swiss stage tickets starting at €45, knockout stage tickets starting at €80, and grand final tickets ranging from €120 for upper bowl seats to over €500 for floor seats with exclusive merch access. Official tickets only go on sale through Riot's authorized ticket partners, so you should never buy tickets from third-party reseller sites, as these are often scams and won't be accepted for entry to the venue. If you're planning to attend in person, follow these three tips to make your experience as smooth as possible:
- Sign up for Riot's official LoL Esports newsletter 2 weeks before ticket sales go live to get early access codes and pre-sale reminders, which give you a much higher chance of securing tickets before they sell out to the general public
- Book your accommodation and transport as soon as you confirm your ticket, as hotel prices in host cities spike by 200-300% during Worlds weeks, and train and flight tickets between the three host cities sell out fast too
- Bring a portable charger and comfortable shoes if you're attending all day sessions, as venue entry lines can take up to 2 hours and events run for 8+ hours daily, with lots of standing room only areas for fan activities
Even if you can't get tickets to the matches themselves, you don't have to miss out on the in-person fun. Fan zones are free to enter for all attendees, even if you don't have a match ticket, and they feature meet and greets with pro players, exclusive Worlds merch drops, interactive gaming stations, and big screens to watch all the matches live with other fans. Riot also hosts official after-parties in each host city on match days, which are open to all fans over 18 with valid ID, no match ticket required.
What to Expect If You're Watching Worlds 2024 From Home
You don't have to travel to Europe to have a great Worlds experience, as Riot puts a lot of work into making the at-home viewing experience just as fun as being there in person. All matches are streamed for free on official LoL Esports channels, with commentary options in over 16 languages, so you can watch in your preferred language no matter where you are in the world. If you don't like the official commentary, dozens of popular League of Legends creators will be running co-streams of all matches, with their own takes and reactions to the action, which are perfect if you want a more casual, friendly watch party vibe. Link your Riot account to your streaming platform account to earn exclusive in-game drops, including limited-edition Worlds 2024 skins, summoner icons, emotes, and even rare hextech chests just for watching live matches. You can also join official online watch parties on Discord or other social media platforms to chat with other fans as you watch, and Riot often runs interactive polls and giveaways during live broadcasts for online viewers, with prizes ranging from merch codes to free Riot Points. This year, Riot is also adding a new watch party feature that lets you create a private room to watch matches with your friends, with synchronized streams and built-in chat, so you can react to plays together even if you're in different parts of the world.
Whether you're saving up to travel to one of the three host cities to catch matches live, or you're planning to set up a watch party with your friends at home, knowing where is worlds 2024 league of legends taking place is the first step to making the most of the biggest League of Legends event of the year. This year's European host locations make it easier than ever for fans across the continent to attend in person, and the improved at-home viewing features mean even fans on the other side of the world can have an amazing experience. I've been watching Worlds every year since 2018, and this year's lineup of teams, host cities, and fan experiences looks like it's going to be one of the best tournaments yet. No matter how you choose to watch, make sure you mark your calendar for the start of play-ins on September 25 so you don't miss a second of the action.