LPL 2026 Split 1 becomes series’ most popular event in two years
The first split of the new League of Legends Pro League (LPL) season concluded on March 8. Despite tremendous upheaval in the off-season, which saw legacy names like Royal Never Give Up and FunPlus Phoenix exit, it ended as the series’ most popular event — on livestreaming platforms outside China — in two years.
The LPL 2026 Split 1, now reduced to 14 participants, was held across multiple venues in China over nearly two months. Apart from regional glory and a prize pool of around $230,000, these sides were also competing for a chance to represent the country at the first global event of the new season, First Stand 2026.
Note: Statistics from Chinese livestreaming platforms have not been included, as their publicly available viewership data differs from the concurrent viewership figures typically used by us on worldwide livestreaming services like Twitch and YouTube. Learn more here.
In the end, it was Bilibili Gaming who came out on top yet again, continuing its domination of this regional top-tier Chinese league. The side 2024 World Championship runner-up eased past JD Gaming 3:1 in the Grand Final, with both finalists qualifying for the First Stand 2026.
The Grand Final was also the most popular match of the LPL 2026 Split 1, reaching 251,587 Peak Viewers (PV). This made the tournament the most popular game in the LPL series since 2024, when the Spring iteration peaked at 292,072 viewers.
This was the first time fans had seen two of the LPL’s most dominant teams in recent years clash in the finals since the Spring 2023 edition. A return to the familiar after what transpired before the season even began, when former world champion FunPlus Phoenix and multiple-time ex-Mid-Season Invitational winner Royal Never Give Up exited the league, attracted a healthy audience number to the Grand Final.
In fact, their clash in the Upper Bracket Final of the Playoffs, which Bilibili Gaming won 3:2, was the second most popular game of the LPL 2026 Split 1. Moreover, despite its recent troubles when it comes to winning titles, JD Gaming remained an audience favorite, appearing in four of the five most popular matches at this top-tier League of Legends competition.
Moreover, the first split of the new season in China continued to attract attention from an unlikely source: Gustavo “baiano” Gomes. The well-known League of Legends community streamer from Brazil has been covering the last few splits, and this time, his coverage even outdid another popular co-caster, Marc “caedrel” Lamont, in watch time.
This was another reminder of the League of Legends Pro League’s growing ability to attract a new, wider international audience. In addition to the names mentioned above, Vietnamese and French channels also showed increased interest in the matches.
Across all top League of Legends splits over the past two months, the top-tier Chinese circuit has emerged as the fourth most popular. Only the Korean, Brazilian, and European series performed better; no other split exceeded 200,000 Peak Viewers.
With most regional circuits completed, the focus now shifts to the first international championship, First Stand 2026. It will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from March 16 to 22, with a $1 million prize pool and global bragging rights on the line for the eight participating teams.
