The 2026 MSI kicks off its three-week journey at the Daejeon Convention Center Exhibition Hall 2 in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, starting with a clash between T1 and Team Liquid on Sunday the 28th.

Now in its 12th year, the MSI is the premier international League of Legends esports tournament where 11 teams selected from six regions—Korea (LCK), China (LPL), EMEA (LEC), North America (LCS), Asia-Pacific (LCP), and Brazil (CBLOL)—battle for supremacy. Representing the LCK, Hanwha Life Esports and T1 will face off against the world's best in Daejeon. T1 holds the record for most MSI appearances; after a runner-up finish in 2015, they claimed back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. However, they have been without an MSI trophy for nine years since that 2017 victory.

While T1 missed out on MSI appearances from 2018 to 2021, they have consistently remained a top-tier contender, securing a runner-up finish in 2022, third place in 2023 and 2024, and another runner-up finish in 2025 after a heartbreaking 2-3 series loss to Gen.G. Despite these strong showings, there is a lingering sentiment that their MSI record falls short compared to their six World Championship titles.

T1 enters the Play-In Stage as a second seed from one of the four regions, excluding the LPL First Stand winner. They are set to compete against North America's Team Liquid, EMEA's Karmine Corp, and Asia-Pacific's Relove Deep Cross Gaming.

The Play-In Stage runs for four consecutive days from Sunday the 28th to Wednesday, July 1st. T1's opening match against Team Liquid takes place on the 28th. The stage utilizes a double-elimination format with Fearless Draft and best-of-five series, meaning only a single survivor will advance to the Bracket Stage.

The 2026 MSI can be watched via the official League of Legends esports website and the LCK YouTube channel. Fans tuning in can expect 'Drops', including a Yuumi-themed 'Duck!' icon and a Renekton-themed 'No Running!' icon. Special events in collaboration with partners such as Opera GX, Secretlab, and Coinbase are also on the schedule.