Big changes: The RLCS 2026 rulebook has been released

The RLCS roadmap was announced during Worlds 2025, and now we have access to the full rulebook!

The Official Rulebook is here for full in-depth details.

The Big bits from the 2026 roadmap

• New LAN format added: Kickoff LAN
• Roster Eligibility: New Majority Residency Roster Rule
• RLCS 2v2's added

RLCS 2026 Rulebook Learnings & Changes

The general structure of the 3v3 RLCS year is relatively the same (outside of the Kick Off LAN).

There will be 2 splits with each respectively consisting of 3 Opens and a Major as well as the Kick Off LAN, LCQ's and finally the pinnacle of RLCS - World Championship 2026.

RLCS Points and regional leaderboards will once again determine qualification for most events.

The Opens:

General: The Open's format wise are the same as last year with a Double Elimination Bracket (BO3 until top 192 teams then BO5), Swiss Stage (Top 32 teams), GSL Stage (Top 16 teams), and finally Hybrid Elimination Bracket. (Top 8 teams)

Auto Qualification:

• Open 1 + 4: The top 32 teams will advance to the Open Swiss stage from the Double Elim bracket.
• Open 2, 3, 5 and 6: The top 24 teams will advance to the Open Swiss stage from the Double Elim bracket.
  • The Top 8 teams in each region's RLCS Split Standings will auto-qualify to the Open Swiss stage. (Change from last year)

The Kick Off LAN:

This brand new tournament will feature the top 4 from NA and EU and be a Single Elimination bracket!

The winner takes home their region an extra spot at both the Majors and Worlds!

The Majors and Worlds:

Qualification slots:

• EU or NA have gained a slot for both the Majors and Worlds.
  • Moving from 4 slots to 5. The extra slot will be determined via the Kick Off LAN for Major 1 and cumulative RLCS points for Major 2.
• OCE have as a result had their slot reduced from 2 to 1 for both Majors and Worlds.

Major 1:

Seeding:

Seeding if EU win Kick Off:

1. NA1
2. EU1
3. MENA1
4. EU2
5. NA2
6. EU3
7. OCE1
8. SAM1
9. NA3
10. EU4
11. SAM2
12. MENA2
13. EU5
14. NA4
15. APAC1
16. SSA1

Seeding if NA win Kick Off:

1. NA1
2. EU1
3. MENA1
4. EU2
5. NA2
6. EU3
7. OCE1
8. SAM1
9. NA3
10. EU4
11. SAM2
12. MENA2
13. NA4
14. APAC1
15. SSA1
16. NA5

Format Update:

Swiss is out and Round Robin is in!

Teams will be organized into Round Robin Groups as follows:

• Group A: Seed 1, Seed 8, Seed 9, Seed 16
• Group B: Seed 2, Seed 7, Seed 10, Seed 15
• Group C: Seed 3, Seed 6, Seed 11, Seed 14
• Group D: Seed 4, Seed 5, Seed 12, Seed 13

Round Robin Regions Overlap:

• For Regions with five Team representatives, one Group will contain two Teams representing that Region. The remaining Round Robin Groups will contain a single Team representing that region.
• For Regions with four or fewer Team representatives, no Group will contain more than one Team representing that Region.

Final Stage: 2 Teams from each group will advance here (different for Major 2 and Worlds!) and play in an 8-team Hybrid Elimination Bracket, as seen throughout last year's Majors.

Paris Major 2:

Seeding:

A Region Slot’s seeding score will be the Region Slot’s final placement in the previous RLCS Major or World Championship and the Region Slot’s seeding score as calculated at the start of the previous RLCS Major or World Championship.

Lots more detail on this in the rulebook.

Round Robin in, Swiss out:

Similar to Major 1 four Round Robin groups take the place of the Swiss format!

New 12 Team final stage format + an extra broadcast day of games:

After the Round Robin Groups, the top 3 teams from each group (12 total) will advance to a new 12-team Hybrid Elimination bracket.

They will then play out a double-elimination skewed BO7 format until the winner is crowned!

World Championship 2026:

After the Playins, a 4x4 Team Round Robin Group stage will be played! (Again replacing the Swiss)

Seeding:

• Group A: Seed 1, Seed 8, Seed 9, Seed 16
• Group B: Seed 2, Seed 7, Seed 10, Seed 15
• Group C: Seed 3, Seed 6, Seed 11, Seed 14
• Group D: Seed 4, Seed 5, Seed 12, Seed 13

New 12 Team format:

Like in Paris the top 3 teams from each group will advance to a BO7 Hybrid Elimination bracket.

Prizes

There have been quite a few prize increases across the Opens:

Opens 1-6 EU & NA:

1st: $21,000 (Up from $15,000)

2nd: $12,000 (Up from $9,000)

3rd - 4th: $8,100 (Up from $6,000)

5th - 6th: $4,800 (Up from $3,600)

7th - 8th: $3,600 (Up from $2,400)

9th - 12th: $2,400 (Up from $1,800)

13th - 16th: $1,800 (Up from $1,350)

17th - 32nd: $1,050 (Up from $750)

33rd - 64th: $450 (Same as 2025)

65th - 128th: $300 (Same as 2025)

Opens 1-6 SAM, OCE & MENA:

1st: $12,000 (Up from $9,000)

2nd: $8,100 (Up from $6,000)

3rd - 4th: $6,000 (Up from $4,500)

5th - 6th: $4,200 (Up from $3,000)

7th - 8th: $3,300 (Up from $2,400)

9th - 12th: $2,100 (Up from $1,500)

13th - 16th: $1,200 (Up from $900)

17th - 32nd: $450 (Up from $300)

33rd - 64th: $300 (Same as 2025)

Opens 1-6 SSA & APAC:

1st: $6,600 (Up from $4,800)

2nd: $3,600 (Up from $2,700)

3rd - 4th: $2,400 (Up from $1,800)

5th - 6th: $1,650 (Up from $1,200)

7th - 8th: $1,200 (Up from $900)

9th - 12th: $1,050 (Up from $750)

13th - 16th: $600 (Up from $450)

17th - 32nd: $300 (Same as 2025)