League Classic runs until January 6, 2027, with set queue hours in Korea from patch 26.21

League Classic, the mode that recreates early League of Legends, will end its current run in January 2027. Riot Games announced the plan on its dev blog on October 14, 2026[1]. This article is current as of October 15, 2026.

An event-mode return is the goal

Riot introduced League Classic on July 14, 2026. The separate mode uses the original Season 3 era as its foundation while drawing elements from several seasons. Its announced starting roster comprised 60 champions: the original 40 plus 20 released between 2009 and 2013. It brought back old runes and masteries, the old Summoner's Rift map and champion abilities from before their reworks[3].

The current run will continue through the end of the 2026 Season 3[1]. Riot's support page gives a more specific endpoint: January 6, 2027, local time, when Season 3 Act II ends[2]. Riot aims to make adjustments, add content and bring Classic back as an event mode. It has not announced when that return might happen[1].

Regional queues move to fixed hours

Riot says most Classic players have returned to other League of Legends modes. In some regions, that shift has lengthened matchmaking waits and widened gaps in matchmaking rating, or MMR[1].

Starting with patch 26.21, Classic queues in lower-population regions will open only at set times. The affected regions are South Korea, Latin America North, Latin America South, Taiwan, Vietnam, Türkiye, Southeast Asia, Oceania and Russia. In server time, queues will run Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. the following day[1].

Japan (JP1) and the Middle East and North Africa (ME1) servers will offer Classic through custom games only. Custom games will remain available at any time in every region. Riot's post does not give a date for patch 26.21[1]. Players on the Korean server should check those hours before queuing.

Act II rewards are free, with more champions still planned

The Act II Classic Pass will have only a free reward track, with every reward available for free. It starts on October 20, 2026, at 11 a.m. PT (03:00 on October 21 in Korea). Progression ends on January 4, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. PT, and the pass deactivates on January 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT. These dates and times are subject to change[2].

The pass has six stages. Players earn Classic Pass Coins by completing Classic missions and must spend at least 125 coins to unlock the next stage. Support advises players to spend all remaining coins and raise their Classic account level before January 6[2].

From patch 26.21, the Classic shop will sell only champions, runes and rune pages[1][2]. Champion additions will continue with each patch through 26.23. Patch 26.21 adds Mordekaiser, Yorick, Hecarim and Lucian, and Volibear, Urgot and Udyr, the top three in the latest Council vote, arrive before that run ends[1].

Refund terms depend on the purchase

Refunds for Classic-only cosmetics will begin 30 days after publication of the support article. Classic portraits bought directly from the shop will be refunded in the RP spent. Portraits included in the paid Act I Classic Pass will receive 200 RP each. Both refunds are due by November 30, 2026. The portrait refund for the Classic welcome set is 2,000 RP[2].

Separately purchased Classic chromas will also be refunded in RP. For the collector box, players can receive the portion of the purchase price attributable to Classic portraits in RP, or request a refund to the original payment method within 30 days. Another option lets players keep the physical collector's edition while the digital content is removed from their account, in exchange for 12,212 RP[2].

Players who bought the Act I pass directly with real money and want the refund on their original payment method must contact Player Support within 30 days. The support article never says which day that 30-day window starts from[2].

Sources

[1] Riot Games. /dev: League Classic. League of Legends Dev Blog, October 14, 2026.

[2] Riot Games Support. League Classic - Classic Pass and Content. League of Legends Support, October 14, 2026.

[3] Riot Games. /dev: League of Legends Classic. League of Legends Dev Blog, July 14, 2026.