It’s late and you’re on a win streak when you realize you have no clue when this season ends. Season 2 Pandemonium wraps up on July 28, 2026, and Season 3 drops the very next day, July 29, on Patch 26.15. If you still want that Season 2 rank, the window is basically closing right now.
Pandemonium Season 2 Overview
Demacia’s outskirts are crawling with demons this season as Vayne hunts the source. Season 2 Pandemonium runs April 29 to July 28, 2026 across two acts, and the whole thing is only 6 patches instead of the usual 8, so the climb window is shorter than past seasons.
Key features:
- Vayne-led story arc with motion comics inside the client
- Season runs 6 patches instead of 8 (shorter climb)
- Arena gets reworked with new augments and rotation
- Season 2 ends July 28, Season 3 starts July 29
What’s New In Pandemonium
Pandemonium introduces several features worth noting:
- Pandemonium Battle Pass with Vayne demon-hunter skins
- Reworked Arena mode with fresh augments and map rotation
- Demacia-themed splash arts and event missions
- Champion Locke released June 24 on Patch 26.13
Complete Timeline: Every LoL Season Since 2010
Before diving into the new system, let's look at every league season timeline since the beginning. This table is your cheat sheet for all seasons - bookmark it, screenshot it, whatever helps you track when each season started and ended.
| Season | Act/Split | Start Date | End Date | Duration | Theme/Focus | Major Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | - | July 13 2010 | Aug 23 2011 | 13 months | Classic Era | Ranked system launch |
| Season 2 | - | Nov 29 2011 | Nov 12 2012 | 11 months | Rise of Esports | Championship Riven |
| Season 3 | - | Feb 1 2013 | Nov 11 2013 | 9 months | LCS Era Begins | Role queue added |
| Season 4 | - | Jan 10 2014 | Nov 11 2014 | 10 months | Vision Rework | Trinkets introduced |
| Season 5 | - | Jan 21 2015 | Nov 11 2015 | 10 months | Juggernaut Meta | Dynamic queue test |
| Season 6 | - | Jan 20 2016 | Nov 8 2016 | 10 months | Elemental Drakes | Plants added |
| Season 7 | - | Jan 24 2017 | Nov 7 2017 | 10 months | Assassin Update | 10-bans system |
| Season 8 | - | Jan 16 2018 | Nov 12 2018 | 10 months | Runes Reforged | BE replaces IP |
| Season 9 | - | Jan 23 2019 | Nov 19 2019 | 10 months | Positional Ranks | Turret plates |
| Season 10 | - | Jan 10 2020 | Nov 10 2020 | 10 months | Rise of Dragons | Elemental Rifts |
| Season 11 | - | Jan 8 2021 | Nov 15 2021 | 10 months | Item Overhaul | Mythic items debut |
| Season 12 | Split 1 | Jan 7 2022 | Jul 14 2022 | 6 months | Chemtech/Hextech | Objective bounties |
| Season 12 | Split 2 | Jul 14 2022 | Nov 14 2022 | 4 months | Dragons Return | Durability update |
| Season 13 | Split 1 | Jan 11 2023 | Jul 19 2023 | 6 months | Communication | Jungle pets |
| Season 13 | Split 2 | Jul 19 2023 | Jan 10 2024 | 6 months | Arena Mode | Emerald tier |
| Season 14 | Split 1 | Jan 9 2024 | May 15 2024 | 4 months | Void Grubs | Map changes |
| Season 14 | Split 2 | May 29 2024 | Sep 24 2024 | 4 months | Quick Play | Vanguard |
| Season 14 | Split 3 | Sep 25 2024 | Jan 9 2025 | 3.5 months | Feats of Strength | 3-split test |
| 2025 Season 1 | Act 1 | Jan 9 2025 | Mar 5 2025 | 8 weeks | Welcome to Noxus | Atakhan debuts |
| 2025 Season 1 | Act 2 | Mar 5 2025 | Apr 30 2025 | 8 weeks | Noxus Dark | Mage rework |
| 2025 Season 2 (Spirit Blossom) | Act 1 | Apr 30 2025 | Jun 24 2025 | 8 weeks | Spirit Blossom Beyond | Thornbound Atakhan |
| 2025 Season 2 (Spirit Blossom) | Act 2 | Jun 25 2025 | Aug 20 2025 | 8 weeks | Spirit Blossom Renewal | Atakhan tweaks |
| 2025 Season 3 | Act 1 | Aug 27 2025 | Oct 8 2025 | 6 weeks | Worlds run-up | Patch stability |
| 2025 Season 3 | Act 2 | Oct 9 2025 | Jan 7 2026 | 13 weeks | Year-end push | Item shop refresh |
| 2026 Season 1 (For Demacia) | Act 1 | Jan 8 2026 | Mar 4 2026 | 8 weeks | For Demacia | Locke teasers |
| 2026 Season 1 (For Demacia) | Act 2 | Mar 5 2026 | Apr 28 2026 | 8 weeks | For Demacia | Mid-season balance |
| 2026 Season 2 (Pandemonium) | Act 1 | Apr 29 2026 | Jun 9 2026 | 6 weeks | Pandemonium | Vayne arc, Arena rework |
| 2026 Season 2 (Pandemonium) | Act 2 | Jun 10 2026 | Jul 28 2026 | 7 weeks | Pandemonium | Champion Locke (Patch 26.13) |
| 2026 Season 3 | TBA | Jul 29 2026 | TBA | TBA | Past & Present | League Classic, ARAM Mayhem |
The Game-Changing Three-Season System Explained
Starting 2025, Riot said "screw it" and totally revamped how seasons work. Knowing when does league season start and when does league season end got way more complicated, but also more interesting. Here's the breakdown:
The New Format:
- 3 seasons per year (goodbye, year-long grinds)
- Each season: 16 weeks (roughly 4 months)
- Split into 2 acts of 8 weeks each
- 1 MMR soft reset per year (January only)
This means the league of legends new season start and end happens three times annually now. More themes and more climbs to chase, but your rank only gets wiped once a year in January. Pick your poison.
Why This Matters: Players wondering when does a new league season start now have three specific times to mark their calendars. In 2026: Season 1 (For Demacia) ran January to April, Season 2 (Pandemonium) runs April to July on a shorter 6-patch cycle, and Season 3 launches July 29. Each brings brand new themes, gameplay changes, and a fresh climb.
Season Start Times by Region (Don't Get Caught Off Guard)
The exact league of legends season start time varies by region. Season 3 goes live July 29, 2026. Here's how a start maps across regions, using the June 10 Act 2 launch as the reference:
North America: 4:00 AM PST
- West Coast players need coffee ready
- East Coast gets 7:00 AM EST start
Europe:
- EUW: 1:00 PM CEST (lunch break ranked?)
- EUNE: 2:00 PM EEST
Asia-Pacific:
- Korea: 8:00 PM KST (prime time chaos)
- OCE: 9:00 PM AEST (RIP evening games)
Pro tip: Avoid ranked for the first 24 hours after any lol season start. The matchmaking algorithm goes full coinflip mode while recalibrating everyone's MMR.
Current Season Rewards and What You're Grinding For
Every player asking when does lol season end really wants to know: will I get my rewards? Here's what's on the line for Season 2:
Rank-Based Rewards:
- Victorious Skin: 15 ranked wins plus Honor Level 3, any rank (three per year now!)
- Platinum+: Exclusive Chroma
- Diamond+: Recall Animation
- Master+: Loading Screen Border++
Split Points System: You need to understand the lol new season split points to maximize rewards:
- 10 games = 10 points (Icon)
- 30 games = 30 points (Emote)
- 50 games = 50 points (Hextech Chest + Key)
- 80 games = 80 points (Champion Permanent)
The catch? Points reset each act. No banking them for later.
Preparing for Season End and Start (Real Strategies)
Knowing when does the league season end is only half the battle. Here's how to actually use this info:
Two Weeks Before Season End:
- Check your current LP and calculate games needed
- Dodge bad lobbies (-3 LP vs -15 LP from a loss)
- Play during tryhard hours (6-10 PM local time)
One Week Before:
- Spam your best champions only
- Abuse whatever's broken this patch
- Turn off chat if you tilt easily
Season Start Strategy: When the new lol season begins:
- Wait 2-3 days before placements (let chaos settle)
- Watch streams to learn new meta
- Practice tool any major changes
Patch Schedule Within Seasons
Patches drop every two weeks, but their impact varies based on where we are in the league of legends season timeline:
Early Season Patches (Weeks 1-4):
- Major changes and experiments
- New champions often released
- Items get reworked
Mid Season Patches (Weeks 5-12):
- Balance adjustments
- Bug fixes
- Minor number tweaks
Late Season Patches (Weeks 13-16):
- Stability focused
- No major shakeups
- Prep for next season
Historical Context: How We Got Here
Knowing current league season dates makes more sense with context. Season 1 lasted 13 months (!), while recent seasons barely crack 4 months. The changes:
2010-2017: Traditional year-long seasons 2018-2021: Experiments with mid-season updates 2022-2024: Split system introduced (2-3 splits) 2025-2026: Three-season format with thematic acts (current system)
Each change responded to player feedback about season length. Year-long seasons felt endless, especially if you were hardstuck. The new system keeps things fresh, though some players miss the stability of longer seasons.
FAQ: Your Burning Season Questions Answered
When does League season start in 2026?
Three times. Season 1 (For Demacia) started January 8, Season 2 (Pandemonium) started April 29, Season 3 launches July 29.
Can I decay between acts?
Only Diamond+ players decay. Plat and below are safe.
What happens to my MMR during resets?
Soft reset only. You'll place near your previous rank, maybe 2-4 divisions lower.
Do I keep rewards if I drop rank before season end?
Yes! Rewards are based on peak rank achieved, not current rank.
When do season rewards arrive?
Usually 2-3 weeks after season end. Riot's hamsters need processing time.
How many placement matches do I need to play?
5 per queue, and only once a year in January. The mid-year seasons like Season 3 on July 29 don't make you replace, your rank and LP just carry straight over.
What rank do I need for Victorious skin?
None. You need 15 ranked wins in the season plus Honor Level 3, at any rank. The old Gold 4 gate is gone, Riot dropped it back in 2024.
Can I still get rewards if I'm chat restricted?
No. You need to be penalty-free when season ends to receive rewards.
Is there still a preseason in 2026?
No more preseason! The three-season format means continuous ranked play all year.
Where can I find the official patch notes?
All patch dates and detailed notes are on Riot’s Support site
Looking Ahead: Rest of 2026
With our current position in the lol season schedule, here's what's coming:
- July 28: Pandemonium Season 2 ends
- July 29: Season 3 launches on Patch 26.15, alongside League Classic
- August 17: next Hall of Legends inductee revealed
Each transition brings new opportunities to climb. The league of legends season end date for Pandemonium (July 28) gives you two acts to secure that Victorious skin, even on the shorter 6-patch cycle.
The Bottom Line
Three seasons, six acts, one January reset, that's League in 2026. Knowing exactly when does league season start and end gives you a huge edge over players who just randomly queue up.
Right now? Pandemonium is in its final stretch. Season 2 ends July 28 and Season 3 drops the next day, July 29, on Patch 26.15. Keep this guide bookmarked, with three seasons per year you'll need to check these dates more often than ever.
Remember: every challenger player was hardstuck once. The difference? They kept track of season dates and grinded when it mattered most.
