LCS: What is LCS in League of Legends?
In the U.S. and Canada, the top-tier League of Legends competition is the League Championship Series, or LCS. It’s directly organized by Riot Games, and most of the action happens live at their studio in Los Angeles, California.
Each LCS season is split into two main parts—spring and summer. These splits wrap up with a double-elimination tournament featuring the best eight teams. Once the summer playoffs end, the top three teams—first, second, and third—earn their spots at the prestigious League of Legends World Championship.
Where Can You Watch LCS Matches?
If you’re looking to tune in, the LCS is mainly streamed on Riot Games’ official YouTube and Twitch channels, where matches often pull in over 200,000 viewers. There was once a plan to give BAMTech exclusive streaming rights through 2023, but things shifted after Walt Disney acquired BAMTech. As a result, Riot made a new deal that included streaming on ESPN+—without limiting it to just that platform—so fans can still watch on Twitch and YouTube as usual.
When it comes to TV broadcasts, don’t expect to see LCS on cable anytime soon. Riot’s co-founder Brandon Beck mentioned all the way back in 2012 that they didn’t have any interest in pushing it to traditional television—and honestly, with the kind of viewership they already draw online, they probably don’t need to.