When contracts end, when the market opens, and what to check at each point.
Contracts expire on 16 November (UTC). In Korea that is the morning of 17 November, and the transfer market opens right after. In 2026 the Worlds final is on 14 November — the market opens two days after the season ends.
| When | What | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug – 13 Sep 2026 | LCK playoffs and final | Final on 13 September |
| 23 Sep – 2 Oct 2026 | Asian Games esports | LoL final on 2 October |
| 15 Oct – 14 Nov 2026 | Worlds | Final on 14 November |
| 16 Nov 2026 (UTC) | Contracts expire | 17 November in Korea |
| mid-Nov – early Dec | Signing announcements | The busiest three weeks of the year |
| early Jan 2027 (expected) | Roster lock | Exact date follows league announcements |
| mid-Jan 2027 (expected) | Season starts | In 2026 it began on 14 January |
Dates can change; always confirm against official league announcements.
VALORANT runs on a different clock: its market opens after Champions in mid-October, about a month before LoL. See the VALORANT free agent list and change log.