First Stand 2026 peaks at 1.5 million viewers

The curtain has fallen on the League of Legends First Stand 2026, and not only did it produce a surprise winner, but it also surpassed the inaugural edition in viewership.

First Stand 2026 concluded on Sunday, March 22, when Bilibili Gaming defeated G2 Esports in the grand finals, marking the Chinese team’s first international trophy.

Despite not featuring the leading tournament favorites, the First Stand grand finals drew a lot of attention from esports fans, surpassing last year’s grand finals by a substantial number.

According to the post-tournament statistics, over 1.5 million people tuned in to watch G2 Esports and Bilibili Gaming clash for the trophy.

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This is a 36% increase from last year’s peak of 1,106,126 viewers who watched the final between Hanwha Life Esports and Karmine Corp.

The grand finals, however, were not the only game of the event that surpassed last year’s finals. Notably, the match between G2 Esports and Gen.G peaked at just over 1.464 million viewers.

Even though First Stand is widely considered the least important international LoL esports tournament, the viewership numbers suggest a growing interest in the competition.

However, the list of participants also played a role in First Stand’s appeal, featuring the likes of Gen.G, G2 Esports, and Bilibili Gaming, who are among the most popular teams in their respective regions.

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Moreover, unlike First Stand 2025, which was hosted in Korea and had unfortunate match scheduling, this year’s event was played in Brazil, making it more accessible to Western fans, with games played in early and late afternoon.

With an average of 604,468 viewers, First Stand 2026 has become the most-watched event of its kind to date. However, its viewership does not match that of the Mid-Season Invitational and the LoL World Championship, which remain the most-watched LoL esports tournaments.

With the conclusion of First Stand, the focus now shifts to the spring split, set to begin in late March and early April across all major regions.