EMEA Masters 2026 Summer: Start Date and Slot Distribution

EMEA Masters 2026 Summer: Start Date and Slot Distribution

The EMEA Masters Summer Split 2026 will take place from September 21 to October 23, with 42 teams from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa set to compete for the title.

For the first time, the winners of both the Winter and Spring Splits will receive automatic qualification for the Summer Split. As a result, Galions and Solary have already secured their places in the tournament regardless of their final results in the LFL Summer Split.

EMEA Masters Summer Split Slot Distribution
The tournament will feature representatives from 13 regional leagues. The LFL will receive five slots, while the Prime League will have four representatives.

The remaining 11 ERLs will each receive three slots, bringing the total number of participating teams to 42.

The distribution is as follows:

LFL: 5 teams, including automatically qualified Galions and Solary
Prime League: 4 teams
Other 11 ERLs: 3 teams each
The new qualification system is designed to reward teams that perform consistently throughout the year rather than relying solely on their results in the Summer Split.

Teams Already Secured Qualification
Galions and Solary are the first teams confirmed for the EMEA Masters Summer Split through their Winter and Spring victories.

Several other teams have also effectively secured their places through their respective regional playoffs. TLN Pirates , for example, have guaranteed at least a third-place finish in their current playoff run and therefore secured an EMEA Masters spot.

In Germany, Berlin International Gaming have likewise guaranteed a top-three finish and qualification for the tournament.

Potential Impact on the LEC
Although no official connection has been announced yet, the 2026 EMEA Masters Summer Split could have implications for the LEC 2027 Winter Split, similar to what happened with the LEC Versus event earlier this year.

The LEC Versus featured teams such as Los Ratones and Karmine Corp Blue , and the EMEA Masters could once again serve as an important pathway for regional teams to gain additional exposure at the highest level of EMEA League of Legends.