Riot responds to developments impacting the UK and Nordics EMEA Regional League
League ApS, the company behind the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC), has informed Riot Games that it can no longer continue operating the league.
This development comes just weeks before the scheduled start of the NLC Spring 2026 season and follows a prolonged period of operational instability.
In 2025, Leagues Media—the marketing and operations arm of League ApS—underwent restructuring, including staff layoffs as part of a move to centralize operations in Copenhagen. More recently, issues escalated as on-air talent publicly raised concerns about delayed payments, unpaid invoices, and sudden removal from broadcasts, leaving matches without casters and drawing strong backlash from the community.
As a result, League ApS has officially stepped down from its role as the league’s operator.
In response, Riot Games issued a statement via the official League of Legends UK, Ireland, and Nordics account:
“League ApS, NLC’s tournament organizer, has informed us that they are no longer in a position to operate the league. We are currently evaluating the situation and working on next steps to ensure continuity and stability for the competition.
We understand this creates uncertainty and are committed to providing clear updates. More information regarding the Spring Split and the path forward will be shared ahead of its start at the end of March.”
The situation unfolds shortly after the dissolution of Los Ratones, the high-profile team founded by Caedrel, which significantly boosted NLC viewership in 2025, reaching record-breaking audience numbers.
Amid the uncertainty, members of the broadcast team have begun advocating for new leadership. Host Archarom publicly called for intervention from potential tournament organizers, stating:
“Who wants to step in and help turn NLC into a proper league? I’m actively looking for a TO willing to take this on. I don’t have decision-making power, but the product is clearly struggling despite its potential.”
Sami Cunningham, Managing Director of Verdant—recent winners of the NLC 2026 Winter Split—also weighed in, noting that the situation, while unsurprising, further deepens concerns about the league’s future:
“It’s disappointing to see the NLC once again facing instability, especially when much of this could have been avoided through better collaboration and communication.”
With the Spring Split approaching, Riot’s next move will be critical in determining whether the NLC can stabilize or risks further disruption.
