The city of Daejeon has once again proven its status as an esports capital by securing a major global esports tournament.
Daejeon Metropolitan City and Riot Games announced Thursday that the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), an international League of Legends tournament, will be held at the Daejeon Convention Center (DCC) Exhibition Hall 2 from June 28 to July 12.
MSI is an international esports tournament held midway through the League of Legends (LoL) season, the game with the largest player base in the world. Along with the Worlds Championship in the second half of the year, it is regarded as one of the most prestigious esports competitions globally. Last year's event was held in Vancouver, Canada, where the top 10 teams from regional leagues competed over 16 days.
This year's tournament will proceed through the Play-In Stage, Bracket Stage and Finals, with top-performing teams from Korea, the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific competing to determine the best team of the mid-season.
League of Legends accounts for approximately 27% of global esports viewership, and MSI carries significant global influence. The finals of last year's MSI in Vancouver recorded a peak concurrent viewership (PCU) of more than 3.44 million, while total watch hours reached 75.3 million hours, setting an all-time record for the tournament.
Approximately 500 personnel including players and operations staff, along with an estimated 80,000 domestic and international fans, are expected to visit Daejeon during the tournament. The economic ripple effect is projected to exceed 100 billion won ($73 million), primarily in accommodation, tourism and small business sectors.
"Securing this MSI is a significant achievement of Daejeon's sustained efforts to foster the esports industry, and it is especially meaningful as the first international tournament the city has hosted," said Park Seung-won, director general of the Culture, Arts and Tourism Bureau. "We will do our utmost to ensure that visitors to Daejeon have the best possible experience."
