Riot Games, Inc. (hereinafter Riot Games) has announced details regarding the LJL 2026 Winter Series Open Qualifiers of the domestic top-tier league League of Legends Japan League (hereinafter LJL).
In addition to all 15 participating teams, the 4 teams with seed rights who will compete from MAIN STAGE 1 have also been revealed.
Details of the LJL 2026 Winter Series Open Qualifiers Released!
📣 LJL 2026 Winter Series オープン予選 出場チーム発表
LJL 2026シーズンの幕開けを告げる
Winter Series オープン予選の出場チームが決定しました。全 15チーム が、メインステージ進出をかけて2週間にわたる戦いに挑みます。
詳細記事はこちらからhttps://t.co/H6rGmSou59#LJL2026… pic.twitter.com/H0meS6B0CS
— LJL（League of Legends Japan League） (@Official_LJL) January 28, 2026
Riot Games has announced all 15 participating teams and the tournament format for the LJL 2026 Winter Series Open Qualifiers, which begins on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Furthermore, the 4 teams with seed rights to compete from MAIN STAGE 1 have also been revealed.
This tournament is held to discover the next generation of players active in the Japanese LoL scene and to strengthen the competitive environment.
We are looking forward to seeing what kind of battles will unfold!
All 15 Teams Participating in the Open Qualifiers
The 15 teams standing on the stage of the Open Qualifiers are as follows:
- Arneb
- Bamboo Juice
- CAG OSAKA
- Clocks
- Fast8
- Inferno Drive Tokyo
- L Guide Gaming
- New Meta
- NOVEX
- Revolution Victory X
- Rising Gaming
- UECeSportsPlusPlus
- Uwinks
- V3 Esports
- VelbeliKaizokudan
4 Seeded Teams Competing From MAIN STAGE 1
The 4 teams with seed rights to fight in MAIN STAGE 1, where they will join the top 8 teams that advanced from the Open Qualifiers, have also been revealed as follows:
- DetonatioN FocusMe Academy
- VARREL YOUTH
- YANG YANG GAMING
- FENNEL
Due to the suspension of activities by QT DIG∞ and the resulting collaboration, FENNEL has inherited the seed rights.
We are already looking forward to seeing what kind of performances these 4 teams will show us!
Tournament Schedule
The tournament will be held on the following dates:
- Qualifying Period: Saturday, January 31, 2026; Sunday, February 1, 2026; Saturday, February 7, 2026; Sunday, February 8, 2026
- Match Start Time: From 10:30 AM on all dates
- Match Progress: 7 matches will proceed simultaneously, with 3 to 4 matches conducted per day (detailed match schedule to be announced at a later date)
The heated battles of the LJL 2026 Winter Series are finally beginning.
Please keep an eye on the Open Qualifiers, where 15 teams will compete fiercely.
Additionally, while the tournament as a whole will not have an official live broadcast for these Open Qualifiers, individual broadcasts by the players themselves are scheduled to take place instead.
Please check the LJL official website or LJL Official X (@Official_LJL) for details.
| LJL 2026 Winter Series Open Qualifiers Overview | |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | LJL 2026 Winter Series Open Qualifiers |
| Event Dates | Saturday, January 31, 2026; Sunday, February 1, 2026; Saturday, February 7, 2026; Sunday, February 8, 2026 |
| Number of Participating Teams | 15 teams (Open Qualifiers) |
| Advancement to MAIN STAGE 1 | Top 8 teams |
| Teams with Seed Rights | DetonatioN FocusMe Academy, VARREL YOUTH, YANG YANG GAMING, FENNEL (4 teams in total) |
