LEC Viewership Plummets: Is This the End for European League?

Look Sports Media – Week one of the LEC Versus 2026 has revealed a worrying trend for the European League of Legends scene, with peak viewership figures dropping by a significant 20% compared to the same period in LEC Winter 2025.

While the newly introduced team, Los Ratones, demonstrated a strong pull in attracting viewers, the overall decline raises serious questions about the LEC’s ability to maintain its audience and relevance in the long run.

Last year, the opening week of LEC Winter 2025 peaked at 592,185 viewers during the highly anticipated match between Karmine Corp and Movistar KOI, marking the third-highest peak viewership of that split. However, the recent clash between Los Ratones and Karmine Corp in LEC Versus 2026 only managed to draw a peak of 476,379 viewers, according to data from looksports.media, highlighting a substantial decrease.

The average viewership experienced a less dramatic dip, falling by approximately 7% from LEC Winter’s total event average to 304,194 viewers. However, it’s crucial to note that this comparison isn’t entirely direct, as it contrasts a week one average with a total event average, which tends to be inflated by the initial hype.

Despite the overall decline, Los Ratones’ impact on viewership was undeniable. Their matches dominated the viewership charts, claiming the top three spots and being the only ones to surpass the 400,000 viewer mark. Notably, Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont’s personal stream experienced a surge in viewership whenever Los Ratones were playing, doubling to a peak of 164,144, a significant improvement from his LEC Winter 2025 viewership of around 20,000.

While Los Ratones’ content creation has undoubtedly resonated with fans, the viewership of established teams like KC and MKOI has suffered. Their LEC Versus 2026 match drew 377,545 peak viewers, a 36% drop from their LEC Winter 2025 Week 1 encounter.

The decline could be attributed to various factors, such as the novelty surrounding rookie player Caliste ‘Caliste’ Henry-Hennebert. Additionally, the community has expressed dissatisfaction with the Best of 1 format, arguing that Best of 3 matches allow for greater draft diversity and enhance the broadcast’s appeal.

However, the decline may also reflect broader shifts in the esports landscape. The KC vs MKOI LEC Winter Week 1 clash itself represented a year-over-year decline from MAD vs KC in LEC Winter 2024 Week 1, suggesting a more systemic issue.

League of Legends regions, in general, experienced viewership declines in 2025, with the LCK being a notable exception, boasting a remarkable 42% growth in average viewership. The LCK’s success suggests that competitive level plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining viewers.

Furthermore, a common sentiment among fans is that players prioritize international competitions over regional leagues, which has been exacerbated by the LEC’s recent struggles on the global stage.

The LEC’s challenge lies in making its competition more meaningful, compelling, and competitive – a daunting task. Los Ratones were brought in to address the first two aspects, and while they have shown promise in attracting viewership, they are not a panacea for the LEC’s problems.

Riot Games may need to accept that there is no quick fix to the challenges facing its regional leagues.

Darragh Harbinson is a senior editor at looksports.media specializing in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.