Everything coming to League of Legends in 2026

League of Legends had a massive 2025. The game turned away from the typical season system and instead started dedicating entire years to keep every season long and filled with consistency. 2026 is slated to be much the same, but even bigger than 2025 was.

The League of Legends 2026 roadmap is out, and some major changes are already expected. In addition to adding a new quest system to the game, most players will likely be wondering when they can expect the new client to come out, and we have all the details here.

What is the League of Legends update schedule in 2026?

League of Legends will follow a biweekly patch schedule through 2026. Most patches drop on Wednesdays, PT, and sometimes Thursdays for holidays or tweaks. Riot plans to release 25 patches next year, keeping balance, champions, items, and systems tuned without disturbing competitive play. The monthly schedule will be as follows.

• January 2026 - 26.01, 26.02 
• February 2026 - 26.03, 26.04
• March 2026 - 26.05, 26.06
• April 2026 - 26.07, 26.08, 26.09
• May 2026 - 26.10, 26.11
• June 2026 - 26.12, 26.13
• July 2026 - 26.14, 26.15
• August 2026 - 26.16, 26.17
• September 2026 - 26.18, 26.19
• October 2026 - 26.20, 26.21
• November 2026 - 26.22, 26.23
• December 2026 - 26.24

The updates will target small, steady improvements rather than big overhauls. This regular patch rhythm lays the groundwork for bigger changes after 2026, where Riot plans to roll out major technical and visual upgrades.

How will gameplay and Summoner’s Rift change in 2026?

Summoner’s Rift will be the main focus for gameplay changes. Riot has confirmed that annual preseason updates are here to stay for testing phases for terrain tweaks, jungle changes, and evolving objectives. They will eventually become permanent, to keep strategy deep while reducing early snowballing, so games aren’t decided by a single early mistake.

Riot is also simplifying champion kits. This will reduce difficulty where certain abilities or utilities don’t add real gameplay value. So in 2026, expect fewer new champions, more mid-scope updates, and selective reworks for older picks without removing their identity. Balancing roles across skill levels also remains at the center of it all.

At a systems level, Riot is carefully testing a few key changes, all in active development. These include the following.

• Objective incentives that shift as a match goes on.
• Jungle and lane tuning aimed at reducing runaway early leads.
• Stronger comeback tools that reward smart macro play over raw stat advantages.

When is the new League of Legends client coming?

Moving on to 2027, Riot has confirmed that League of Legends’ biggest technical upgrade is on the way, and it is not the highly speculated League of Legends 2. It is a new client that will be a full modernization of the existing one. The annoying split between the client and the game engine will be removed to fix performance and stability issues.

• The new client will be integrated with the in-game engine.
• Full-screen by default, similar to VALORANT.
• Able to display in-game assets like champion models directly in the client.

Importantly, the gameplay engine itself won't be replaced. Instead, it’s being upgraded and expanded, with the around-game client moved into the same engine. It adds a modern UI, smoother transitions, and performance, without rebuilding the engine from scratch.

What major changes are planned for League of Legends after 2026?

Alongside the new client, Riot has confirmed a full visual overhaul of Summoner’s Rift for 2027. Lighting, terrain readability, and environmental clarity will be modernized, with some gameplay tweaks where visuals and mechanics overlap. Expect to see the map visually refreshed, but in a way that doesn't break competitive play or your muscle memory.

While that’s in progress, Riot is actively working on simplifying the runes system to make pre-game choices easier for new and returning players. This is part of a redesigned new-player experience that Riot says will make League easier and more welcoming than ever after 2026. 

Riot has hinted at structural upgrades designed to last and grow with the game for the next decade. While details are still under wraps, they plan to share more between MSI and Worlds 2026, marking the move from regular updates to League’s next big technical and gameplay era.

FAQs

Will League of Legends still get regular patches in 2026?

Yes. Riot will keep the biweekly patch cycle with around 25 updates across the year.

Are patches getting bigger in 2026?

No. Updates will focus on steady balance changes instead of large overhauls.

Is Riot changing the season system again in 2026?

No. The year-based structure introduced in 2025 will continue.