LEC Versus Won't Return for 2027: A Chat with the LEC Commissioner

As the LEC wrapped up its 2026 season with the Grand Finals in Nice, Commissioner Artem Bykov sat down to look back on a busy year — and confirmed one major change coming in 2027. The LEC Versus format, which gave Tier 2 teams a shot at the league's best, will not be returning next season, with Riot Games planning to refocus on its core competition.

A Season of Growth — With Growing Pains

The 2026 LEC season was one of the most ambitious in the league's history. Riot Games stretched the calendar, introduced Tier 2 teams through LEC Versus, and staged six roadtrips including the Nice grand final. The Summer Split format was also reworked in response to feedback from the previous year.

Bykov singled out the expansion of live events as the year's biggest win. Still, more events and broadcast days brought new headaches, particularly around scheduling. He acknowledged the concerns raised in Spring, when some teams complained about uneven match schedules.

"That is one of the areas we want to improve next year," he said. "We have already discussed it in detail with the pro teams, so we will work more closely with them when scheduling future road trips and splits."

The Viewership Debate

Viewership was a recurring talking point this year. According to Esports Charts, the 2026 Summer Split drew 23% fewer viewers than the 2025 edition — a decline that looks alarming on paper.

Bykov urged fans to consider the context. The number of show days rose from 66 to 75 in 2026, spreading matches more evenly across the season. "When you increase the number of matches throughout the year, the spikes matter less, and that affects average viewership," he explained. "We expected that."

He also noted that the LEC had already broken its all-time record for hours watched before the season's two biggest matches — the lower bracket final and the grand final — had even been played. A deeper analysis will follow once the season concludes.

Co-Streaming: A Deliberate Bet

Bykov also addressed the league's growing reliance on co-streaming. Big-name creators like Marc "Caedrel" Lamont and Kamel "Kameto" Kebir pull massive audiences in English and French, sometimes dwarfing the official broadcast.

Rather than seeing this as a problem, Bykov described co-streaming as a calculated investment. "Co-streaming has been a big bet for the LEC over the past few years," he said, admitting it is "more difficult to manage 50 or 60 channels instead of five." He conceded there is "a degree of dependence on the creators themselves," but argued the multi-language approach reaches a wider audience.

"We have seen a strong desire from fans around the world to experience the LEC through a creator's lens," he added.

Rethinking Player Behaviour Rules

This season's rivalries also forced Riot to discipline players, including a fine for MKOI mid laner Joseph Joon "Jojopyun" Pyun and warnings for Shifters mid laner Ilias "nuc" Bizriken and Team Heretics support Han "Way" Gil. The community response was divided.

Bykov admitted drawing the line is tricky in a league spanning countries with different attitudes toward trash talk. "We need to ensure that our environment is welcoming, respectful and safe, while still allowing banter and some trash talk between teams," he said. He pointed to the Madrid roadtrip as a turning point that made Riot "pause, think and reconsider" its boundaries.

What Comes Next

Looking ahead to 2027, Bykov hinted the league's top priority is creating more high-pressure live moments, with roadtrips staying "a priority." He believes playing in big arenas in front of loud crowds also prepares European teams for international competition. "The more matches they play on big stages in front of passionate, loud crowds, the better prepared they are," he said.

Source: Esports Insider