Riot Games has detailed a series of residency rule changes for League of Legends’ North American (LCS) and Brazilian (CBLOL) leagues ahead of the 2026 season, following the formal split of the Americas ecosystem into separate competitions.
According to the announcement, the former ‘Americas Resident’ slot will be removed from next year’s roster rules, with updated criteria introduced to determine which players qualify as residents within their respective leagues.
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The changes form part of Riot’s broader restructuring of the League of Legends Americas (LTA) system, which was dissolved earlier this year. The updates are expected to play a notable role in how LCS and CBLOL organisations assemble their 2026 line-ups.
Grandfathered Residency and LATAM Status
Players who competed under the universal Americas resident slot in 2025 — or signed a one-year deal within that window — will be grandfathered into their current league as temporary residents. This applies until they return to their original home region.
For example, a North American player competing in Brazil this year will be treated as a CBLOL resident in 2026 as long as they remain in the league.
A significant change affects players from Latin America (LATAM). All LATAM players will be considered residents in both LCS and CBLOL throughout 2026 and 2027. From 2028 onwards, these players must commit to one region, losing resident status in the other after making their choice.
Riot summarised the update as three key shifts: the removal of the Americas slot, the temporary dual-residency period for LATAM talent, and unified roster construction rules across both leagues. LATAM organisations competing within the structure are now formally categorised as either LCS or CBLOL teams.
Impact on 2026 Roster Building
Residency rules directly affect how teams allocate their import slots, making these adjustments particularly impactful heading into the offseason. Dual-resident LATAM players may become highly sought-after options for organisations in both leagues due to their flexibility in roster construction.
With multiple regions competing for stability after the dissolution of the unified Americas system, teams will be navigating a transitional period with new strategic considerations for 2026 and 2027.
Further competitive updates for the LCS and CBLOL 2026 seasons are expected later this year.
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