LEC Commissioner Artem Bykov discusses league growth while preserving its core identity
Four years ago, taking the LEC outside Berlin was a major undertaking. Now, in 2026, the league runs six external arena shows in a single year while maintaining regular competition broadcasts from the Riot Games Arena Be…
Timeline: how the LEC got here
The starting point. Four years ago, taking the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) outside Berlin was considered a major undertaking for Riot Games. At that time, the league's operations were firmly anchored at the Riot Games Arena Berlin, and any move away from that home studio required significant planning and resources.
The shift. As the league matured, Riot Games gradually built up the operational capacity to run competitive formats from its home studio while simultaneously taking live events on the road. Artem Bykov, LEC Commissioner, who joined Riot Games during this period of change, has watched that evolution firsthand.
Where things stand in 2026. The league is now staging six arena shows outside the Riot Games Arena Berlin in a single year — a scale of touring that would have been hard to imagine when a single off-site event was treated as a major logistical effort. Crucially, these road shows run alongside the league's regular competitive broadcasts, which continue to be produced from the Berlin studio as the operational base.
What the commissioner says. For Bykov, this transformation stands out as one of the clearest examples of how quickly the LEC has evolved since he joined Riot Games.
What it means for fans and the league
The touring model changes the fan experience directly: audiences in cities beyond Berlin get live, in-arena access to LEC matches without the league sacrificing the stability of a permanent studio operation. For Riot Games, it signals that the LEC's infrastructure has reached a point where large-scale live events are no longer exceptional projects but part of the annual calendar.
Current stage: The LEC in 2026 operates a dual-track setup — six external arena shows plus ongoing studio-based competition from Berlin — marking the transition from occasional flagship events to a routine touring structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many live arena shows will the LEC hold outside Berlin in 2026?
According to the article, the LEC will stage six arena shows outside the Riot Games Arena Berlin in 2026, a scale that would have been hard to imagine four years ago when a single off-site event was considered a major logistical effort.
Will the LEC still broadcast from its Berlin studio?
Yes. The regular competitive broadcasts continue to be produced from the Riot Games Arena Berlin, which remains the league's operational base. The six road shows run alongside these studio-based broadcasts in a dual-track setup.
How has the LEC's touring model changed over the past four years?
Four years ago, taking the LEC outside Berlin required significant planning and resources, with a single off-site event treated as a major undertaking. The league gradually built the operational capacity to run competitions from its home studio while also taking live events on the road, and touring is now part of the annual calendar.
What does the touring model mean for fans?
Fans in cities beyond Berlin get live, in-arena access to LEC matches, while the league maintains the stability of a permanent studio operation in Berlin.
Who is Artem Bykov and what does he say about these changes?
Artem Bykov is the LEC Commissioner, who joined Riot Games during the period when the league began expanding beyond Berlin. He says this transformation is one of the clearest examples of how quickly the LEC has evolved since he joined.
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