On Saturday 14 November 2026, during the League of Legends World Championship final in New York, Riot Games announced League of Legends: New Dawn, a large-scale update to its game released in 2009, along with a first teaser. It is neither a sequel nor a new game: New Dawn will change the existing game, with a modernised client, a redesigned Summoner's Rift and gameplay changes. It arrives in 2027 on PC, and its exact release date has not yet been announced. League of Legends remains free to play, and Riot has not given any price for New Dawn.

New Dawn: what the first teaser shows

Since its release in 2009, League of Legends has already gone through major changes, such as the rebuild of Summoner's Rift in 2014 and a new client in 2016, but New Dawn changes the client, the map visuals and the gameplay at the same time. In the teaser, Paul Bellezza, the game's executive producer, explains that the client needs to be better and that Riot will release a modernised client next year. Andrei van Roon, senior vice president and studio head, adds that a client is not enough and that the team wants League of Legends to keep being played for many more years.

The teaser shows a new champion select screen, redesigned minions, dragons and Baron Nashor, new visual effects and terrain changes on the map, while the rune system also appears to have been reworked. It also includes cinematic shots of nine champions: Riven, Ahri, Jhin, Sett, Poppy, Lux, Blitzcrank, Leona and Volibear.

Riot has not yet detailed all of the gameplay changes, which are due to be fully presented in January 2027. In the same month, the League Classic mode, which let players replay older versions of the Rift and the champions, will close.

The teaser was shown on the screens of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn during the 2026 World Championship final, which China's Bilibili Gaming won 3-1 against South Korea's Gen.G in front of nearly 19,000 spectators.

Riven, Ahri, Jhin and Lux, four of the characters in the teaser, each have their own Funko POP figure.

Funko POP: Riven, Ahri, Jhin and Lux

Riven #1040 and Ahri #1041 were released in 2024. Riven holds her large dark sword, marked with green lines.

Ahri wears a red dress and holds a blue orb in her hand.

Jhin #1081 and Lux #1137 followed in 2025: Lux, about 4.2 in (10.7 cm) tall, holds her golden staff. The range also includes Akali, Yasuo, Teemo and Senna.