Good news for anyone who likes their League with a live crowd and a familiar backdrop: Riot has confirmed the LEC will keep running mainly out of the Riot Games Arena in Berlin through 2027. That shuts down the recent chatter that the league was about to abandon its studio setup entirely.

What Riot actually said

Max Schmidt, Director of League of Legends Esports EMEA, clarified the situation in a statement. In short, the LEC will remain based in Berlin next year, but Riot will keep experimenting with how matches are produced.

We will continue to evaluate and evolve our production approach, including formats like Roadtrips, select no-audience match days, and the potential for limited online play, to focus our efforts on the parts of the experience that matter most to fans.

Why the rumor spread

The rumor kicked off after former pro and now co-streamer Kim "Wadid" Bae-in suggested on stream that the Berlin studio could disappear after next year and that the LEC might shift to an online model except for Roadtrip events. That fed into broader concerns, since Riot has been trimming costs and reshaping live events across its League ecosystem.

What might change, and what will not

  • Studio stays for now: The immediate plan is unchanged. Fans can expect at least two more competitive seasons in the Berlin studio.
  • Production tweaks: Riot is open to Roadtrips, some no-audience match days, and limited online play as testing grounds for a leaner production model.
  • Co-streaming influence: With co-streams growing in popularity, Riot could lean more on independent coverage from creators. That does not mean offline events are gone, but it is part of the conversation.

The company’s wording is careful. It keeps the door open for future changes while making clear that the Berlin arena remains the primary home for the LEC through 2027. For now, fans and teams get the stability of the studio and the possibility of some new event formats to keep things interesting.

Short version: calm your keyboards. The LEC is staying in Berlin next year, but expect Riot to keep testing new ways to produce the show.