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LCS 2026 Lock-In Playoffs: Bracket, Schedule, Format, and More
The return of the LCS has had something for everyone. With old North American powerhouses rising back to the top and dark horses showing they came to play, the start of this year's LCS season has not disappointed so far.
With the Swiss Stage done and dusted, it's now time to turn our attention to the LCS Lock-In 2026 Playoffs, where the winners will not only come away with the trophy but also earn the chance to represent the region at First Stand in Brazil.
LCS Lock-In Playoffs Teams and Format
The top six teams from the Regular Season have made it to the 2026 LCS Lock-In Playoffs. These six teams are:
| Team | Roster | Head Coach |
| Cloud9 | Thanatos, Blaber, APA, Zven, Vulcan | Inero |
| Sentinels | Impact, HamBak, DARKWINGS, Rahel, Huhi | Goldenglue |
| FlyQuest | Gakgos, Gryffinn, Quad, Massu, Cryogen | Thinkcard |
| Disguised | Castle, KryRa, Callme, sajed, Lyonz | ido |
| LYON | Dhokla, Inspired, Saint, Berserker, Isles | Reignover |
| Team Liquid | Morgan, Josedeodo, Quid, Yeon, CoreJJ | Spawn |
The LCS Lock-In Playoffs will use the following format:
- Double-elimination bracket
- LYON and Team Liquid start in the Lower Bracket
- All matches are Bo5
- Winners qualify for First Stand 2026
LCS Lock-In Playoffs Schedule and Opening Matches
The race for the title at the 2026 LCS Lock-In Playoffs begins this Saturday, February 14. The playoffs will run for three consecutive weeks, with matches taking place on every Saturday and Sunday, plus Fridays starting from Week 2. All matches start at 1 pm PT/10 pm CET.
Opening Matchups:
To kick of the playoffs, the top 4 teams in the league will battle to decide who makes it onto the Upper Bracket Finals. The 2026 LCS Lock-In Playoffs opening matchups are:
- Sentinels vs Disguised [Saturday, February 14 - 1 pm PT/10 pm CET]
- Cloud9 vs FlyQuest [Sunday, February 15 - 1 pm PT/10 pm CET]
LCS Lock-In Playoffs Tickets
If you'd like to catch the return of the LCS live from the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, California, then you better hurry up. Tickets for the 2026 LCS Lock-In Playoffs are already on sale and can be found at the official LCS ticket shop for as low as $23.
Where to Watch
The path to First Stand starts here, so make sure to catch the 2026 LCS Lock-In Playoffs on the official LCS channels on Twitch or YouTube, starting Saturday, February 14!
Remember that you can also catch the games live along with your favorite streamers by joining any of the official channels of co-streamers for the LCS.
Follow Strafe Esports for the latest League of Legends news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe's channel on YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
Featured image credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
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