NLC in turmoil as Riot Games confirms the league organizer has bailed

Riot Games has confirmed the worst fears of UK and Nordic League of Legends esports fans after it reveals that the future of the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC) is currently uncertain ahead of the start of the Spring Split.

Confirming earlier reports, The League of Legends UK, IE, and Nordics Twitter/X account stated that the NLC’s tournament organiser, League ApS, has officially informed the publisher that it can no longer continue operating the competition.

The announcement, shared via social media on March 16, stated that tournament overseer and LoL developer Riot Games is now reviewing the situation and determining the next steps for the regional ecosystem.

NLC organizer League ApS ditches event, informs Riot it can’t host circuit

The NLC is the official League of Legends European Regional League (ERL) for Northern Europe, representing teams from the United Kingdom, Ireland and several Nordic countries including Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

As one of the key regional competitions in the EMEA esports structure, the league acts as a pathway for rising teams and players to qualify for higher-level events such as the EMEA Masters and, in theory, the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC).

According to reports, the reported announcement from League ApS comes just weeks before the scheduled start of the NLC Spring Split, which was expected to begin toward the end of March.

The development follows a turbulent period for the league behind the scenes. Earlier in 2026, concerns were raised about delayed or missed payments to broadcast talent and contractors who had worked on NLC events. Organizers acknowledged the delays and attributed them to heavy financial investment in the 2025 season, stating at the time that outstanding invoices had since been settled.

Despite those challenges, the NLC reportedly experienced strong viewership and momentum last year. Much of that growth was driven by high-profile teams and personalities joining the competition, including influencer-led organisations like Los Ratones, Rich Gang, and The Ruddy Sack, that helped draw significant audiences to the league.

For now, Riot says it is actively assessing the situation and will provide further updates before the Spring Split is due to begin.

Riot’s statement emphasised that the company is working to “ensure continuity and stability for the competition,” though it has not yet confirmed whether a new tournament operator will be appointed in time for the upcoming split.

The publisher added that it is committed to keeping the community informed while it works to secure the future of League of Legends esports across the UK, Ireland and Nordic regions.