NLC Organizers ‘No Longer in a Position to Operate the League’

Key insights

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Sudden withdrawal

League ApS is no longer able to operate the Northern League of Legends Championship.

The tournament organizer informed Riot Games of its decision in March 2026. This leaves the league's future uncertain just weeks before the scheduled start of the Spring 2026 season.

Recent success

The NLC saw record-breaking viewership in 2025.

This high viewership was partly driven by the participation of the all-star team Los Ratones. The league serves as the EMEA Regional League for the UK and Nordics.

Past performance. The NLC, which serves as the EMEA Regional League for the UK and Nordics, faces this leadership vacuum shortly after the dissolution of the high-profile all-star team Los Ratones, which…

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Summary

League ApS, the tournament organizer for the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC), has officially informed Riot Games that it can no longer operate the league. This announcement, made in March 2026, arrives just weeks before the scheduled start of the Spring 2026 season, creating significant uncertainty for the future of the EMEA Regional League covering the UK and Nordics.

The decision follows a period of operational instability for the organizer. Leagues Media, the marketing and operational arm of League ApS, previously underwent staff reductions as part of a business centralization effort in Copenhagen. More recently, the league faced public scrutiny regarding the treatment of broadcast talent, including reports of unpaid invoices and late payments, which resulted in the departure of key personnel and disrupted match coverage.

Riot Games is currently assessing the situation to determine the next steps for the competition, with a commitment to provide updates before the end of March. The collapse of the current operational structure follows a high-profile year for the NLC, which saw record-breaking viewership in 2025, partly driven by the participation of the all-star team Los Ratones. Industry stakeholders and broadcast talent have expressed concern over the recurring instability within the league, emphasizing the need for a sustainable path forward to maintain the competition's viability.