League of Legends Classic stops as a permanent mode on January 6, 2027
Riot Games will remove League of Legends Classic from the permanent rotation on January 6, 2027. It may return later as an event mode.
- The developer is leaving the door open for a later return as a temporary event mode, with changes and extra content based on feedback.
- According to the reports, Classic-specific cosmetic purchases will be refunded.
What happened
Riot Games has reportedly confirmed that League of Legends Classic will no longer remain available as a permanent mode. The current run lasts until the end of Season 3 of 2026, after which the mode will be removed as a permanent option in League of Legends on January 6, 2027.
Classic was introduced on July 29, 2026, with patch 26.15. The mode recreates an older version of League of Legends, is played on Summoner’s Rift, and uses a limited champion pool. The provided information mentions Vayne and Ezreal as examples of available champions, but a full list is not included.
According to the sources, Riot says Classic could later return as a temporary event mode. In that version, changes and extra content could be added based on player feedback. The same reporting also states that Classic-specific cosmetics that were purchased will be refunded, although it is not explained exactly how those refunds will be handled.
The decision is linked in the provided material to Paul "Pabro" Bellezza and Andrei "Meddler" van Roon. The sources also say the reason for ending the mode is that most players have already returned to other parts of League of Legends.
Timeline
July 29, 2026: League of Legends Classic is introduced with patch 26.15.
July 29, 2026: the mode launches on Summoner’s Rift with a limited champion pool.
2026: Riot says most players have returned to other League of Legends content.
End of Season 3 of 2026: Classic’s current full run ends.
January 6, 2027: League of Legends Classic is removed as a permanent game mode.
After January 6, 2027: Riot leaves open the possibility of a return as a temporary event mode.
Background
League of Legends Classic is designed as an official throwback to older gameplay and champion balance within League of Legends. The mode uses Summoner’s Rift, the standard 5v5 map, and works with a defined selection of champions rather than the full roster.
The available facts mention patch 26.15 as Classic’s starting point. Patch 26.21 also appears in the material, but without further explanation of what that update changes. As a result, only the fact that both patch numbers appear in the same news context can be confirmed.
A possible return as an event mode has not been detailed yet. The sources do say Riot could add changes and extra content based on feedback, but they do not provide a schedule, duration, or content outline for such a version.