The 2026 LEC season has just started, but plans for player awards are already confirmed. This year, the League of Legends EMEA Championship will run a bigger awards system across Spring and Summer splits. The goal is simple. Reward top players, highlight new talent, and keep fans engaged throughout the season.
The first major award will be given very soon. Fans can expect the first winner at the LEC Versus Finals on March 1. From that point onward, several awards will follow during the year.
Here is everything you need to know in simple words.
Finals MVP Starts The Awards Season
The first honour of 2026 will be the Finals MVP. This award goes to the best performer in the LEC Versus Finals match.
Voting happens right after the final game ends. A selected expert panel decides the winner. This group usually includes esports journalists, casters, analysts, co-streamers, and broadcast partners.
Only players from the winning team can get this award. Riot has also confirmed that similar Finals MVP awards will be given after both Spring and Summer playoffs.
This keeps the focus on big match performers who step up under pressure.
Season MVP Will Return For Both Splits
Another major award is the Season MVP. This prize recognises the best overall player during the regular season.
It will be awarded twice:
- Once after the Spring Split
- Once after the Summer Split
Voting takes place before the playoffs start. Panel members choose their top three players. The one with the most votes becomes MVP.
The voting group includes:
- Pro players
- Team staff
- Broadcast talent
- Esports media
- Analysts
To qualify, a player must play at least six regular season matches. This rule helps ensure the award goes to someone who actively contributed to the season.
All-Pro Teams Will Highlight Top Performers
The All-Pro Team selections are also returning in 2026. These teams highlight the best players in each role.
Voters choose their top three players for every role. This creates three All-Pro lineups per split.
Team 1 represents the highest voted players and usually gets announced during playoffs. It often reflects the strongest roster performances of the season.
However, there will be no All-Pro or Season MVP awards during the LEC Versus stage. The reason is simple. That stage has fewer matches, so judging full performance becomes difficult.
Rookie Of The Year Award Explained
New talent will also get recognition. At the end of the Summer Split, the Rookie of the Year award will be announced.
But the eligibility rules are strict.
Players must:
- Be active in LEC during voting
- Play in at least two splits in 2026
- Appear in at least half of scheduled matches in those splits
There are extra conditions too. A player can only be considered once in their career. They should not have already been eligible in another region. Also, players with too much past experience are excluded.
Players who debut only in Summer 2026 will not qualify this year. The league wants fair comparison across the full season.
Also Read: EMEA Masters 2026: LEC Teams To Join Huge New EWC Qualifier
