The biggest event in esports is finally coming to Japan. Riot Games’ Japanese branch announced on November 14 (JST) that the Swiss Stage of the League of Legends World Championship 2027 (Worlds 2027) will be held in Nagoya. It will be the first time Worlds has ever been staged in Japan.
A two-country Worlds
Worlds 2027 is planned for the second half of 2027 and will be split between Japan and South Korea. After the Swiss Stage in Nagoya, the tournament moves to Korea for the entire knockout stage:
- Swiss Stage: Nagoya, Japan (venue to be announced)
- Quarterfinals and semifinals: Suwon Convention Center, Suwon, South Korea
- Final: the newly built Seoul Arena, Seoul, South Korea
In the Swiss format, teams play several rounds against opponents with similar records. Teams that reach a set number of wins advance to the knockouts, while teams that hit a set number of losses are eliminated.
Play-in format still under review
Riot also said it is reconsidering the 2027 play-in stage. Citing the response to the Demacia Cup held this year, the company is studying whether that event could replace the traditional play-ins. Riot stressed that nothing has been decided yet. Dates, ticketing and viewing details for every stage will be announced later.
Why it matters
Until now, Japanese fans have only been able to follow Worlds from overseas, so hosting the Swiss Stage gives them their first chance to see the world championship in person at home. For anime fans, it is another big step for a franchise that has expanded into music, comics and the Emmy-winning animated series Arcane.
The announcement lands during Worlds 2026, which is currently being held in the United States. According to Denfaminicogamer, the final between Gen.G (Korea) and Bilibili Gaming (China) is set for November 15 at 4:00 a.m. JST, which is 11:00 a.m. PT on November 14.
Source: Denfaminicogamer
