Worlds 2026 Pick’Ems Go Live October 10
Riot Games’ tournament primer confirms that Worlds 2026 Pick’Ems and Crystal Ball predictions go live on October 10 at 4 PM PDT. Picks can be entered on the LoL Esports Pick’Ems page or from inside the League of Legends client. Play-In selections close before the first series on October 15, and each later stage runs on its own opening and closing schedule.
Splitting the calendar into segments means one submission will not cover the whole event. Play-In, Swiss and Knockout predictions open at different moments as the field narrows. Crystal Ball runs on a longer timeline, since it is scored only after Worlds ends, so the first lock should not be the only date players keep in mind.
Every Worlds stage gets its own prediction window
Crystal Ball and Play-In picks become available together on October 10, and Play-In choices lock on October 15 ahead of the opening match. Swiss picks open on October 18 and close before the first Swiss match on October 23. Knockout selections go live on October 31 and lock before the first knockout series on November 3.
Riot says Pick’Ems scores will be finalized after the November 14 final, with rewards expected within 48 hours of that point. Crystal Ball performance tiers are also set to be resolved around November 14. If an earned reward still has not appeared by November 21, affected players should contact Player Support.
An active Riot account must be in place before picking
Taking part requires a valid Riot account and Summoner Name. Entries can be made on the website or in the League client, though regional access and reward eligibility may differ under local rules. Signing in before each deadline is the most dependable approach, because a prediction tied to an ineligible account cannot be credited afterward.
The October 10 opening time is listed as 4 PM PDT. Players in other time zones should convert it to local time instead of assuming the date changes at the same moment everywhere. The later locks are set relative to the first match of each stage, not to a single fixed hour in the announcement.
Play-In predictions cover the four-team, double-elimination preliminary stage. Once that stage finishes, the Swiss field and first-round draw can be confirmed. That is why Swiss picks begin on October 18 rather than staying open from the original October 10 window.
The knockout bracket follows the same reasoning. Picks open on October 31, after the Swiss stage determines the eight advancing teams. Waiting until then means nobody has to forecast a bracket that does not exist yet.
Crystal Ball works differently from match-by-match picks. Its forecasts address outcomes across the entire tournament and are scored only after Worlds concludes. The official primer promises new rewards but, in the announcement reviewed, does not list every reward item, so no specific unconfirmed prizes should be assumed.
Reward timing should be read as a target, not a guarantee. Riot aims to distribute Pick’Ems rewards within 48 hours after final scores are set. The November 21 support date gives eligible players a clear next step if their reward still hasn’t arrived.
Players should double-check their saved selections before every lock. An open stage does not confirm that an unfinished pick was submitted. A quick look at the web page or client confirmation keeps an empty bracket from being mistaken for a deliberate prediction.
The practical timeline therefore runs October 10, October 15, October 18, October 23, October 31 and November 3, with scoring on November 14. These dates come straight from the official tournament primer and should take precedence over estimates based on earlier Worlds events.
- October 10: Crystal Ball and Play-In picks go live.
- October 15: Play-In predictions lock before play begins.
- October 18 and 23: Swiss picks open, then lock.
- October 31 and November 3: Knockout picks open, then lock.
| Prediction section | Opens | Locks or resolves |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Ball | October 10 | Scored once the November 14 final ends |
| Play-In | October 10 | Closes before the first match on October 15 |
| Swiss | October 18 | Closes before the first match on October 23 |
| Knockout | October 31 | Closes before the first series on November 3 |
Worlds Pick’Ems open October 10, but players will need to return for the Swiss and Knockout windows. Holding a valid Riot account, confirming each lock and treating November 21 as the deadline for raising a missing reward covers every confirmed step without depending on unannounced prize details.
