Bilibili Dominance and Global Fever: Why LPL 2026 Split 1 is the Most Popular Chinese Event in Two Years

SHANGHAI – The League of Legends Pro League (LPL) has always been known for its aggressive “bloodshed” meta and chaotic team fights. However, heading into the 2026 season, the league faced a massive identity crisis. With the shocking exit of legacy titans like Royal Never Give Up (RNG) and FunPlus Phoenix (FPX), many feared a viewership collapse.

Instead, the opposite happened.

The LPL 2026 Split 1 concluded on March 8, 2026, as a historic success. According to the latest data from Esports Charts , the tournament emerged as the most popular LPL event on international streaming platforms (excluding mainland China) in over two years. The “New Era” of Chinese League of Legends hasn’t just arrived; it is thriving on a global scale.

1. The Final Showdown: Bilibili Gaming’s Iron Grip

The Grand Final saw the world-class Bilibili Gaming (BLG)—the 2024 World Championship runners-up—face off against their perennial rivals, JD Gaming (JDG). In a masterclass of macro-play and individual mechanics, BLG eased past JDG with a 3:1 scoreline, securing their spot as the kings of the 14-team league.

Beyond the regional trophy and the $230,000 prize pool, both BLG and JDG earned the right to represent China at the first-ever international event of the year: First Stand 2026.

2. Breaking the Numbers: A Viewership Surge

While domestic Chinese data is notoriously difficult to track, international engagement tells a clear story of growth. The Grand Final became the most-watched match of the split, hitting a Peak Viewers (PV) count of 251,587.

This milestone makes the 2026 Split 1 the most popular event in the series since the Spring 2024 iteration, which peaked at 292,072. The fact that the league reached these heights after losing its two most famous legacy brands (RNG and FPX) suggests that fans are now following players and performance rather than just historic team names.

Top Matches by Peak Viewers:

1. BLG vs. JDG (Grand Final): 251,587 PV

2. BLG vs. JDG (Upper Bracket Final): (The 3:2 thriller that set the stage)

3. JDG vs. Top Esports: (Confirming JDG as the ultimate “audience favorite”)

3. The “Baiano” Effect: Brazil and Vietnam Fuel Growth

Perhaps the most intriguing takeaway from the LPL’s recent success is where the viewers are coming from. The league is no longer just a “Chinese and Western” affair.

Data from Esports Charts highlights the massive impact of community co-streaming.

• The Brazilian Wave: Gustavo “baiano” Gomes, the legendary Brazilian streamer, saw his LPL coverage explode, even outperforming the world-renowned Caedrel in total watch time during this split.

• The Global Reach: Vietnamese and French channels also reported a significant uptick in interest, proving that the LPL’s high-octane playstyle is the perfect “export” for international audiences looking for entertainment outside of the LCK or LEC.

4. Ranking the Regions: Where Does the LPL Stand?

In the global pecking order of League of Legends esports over the past two months, the LPL has firmly secured its spot as the fourth most popular league in the world.

With the LPL being the only other split to comfortably exceed the 200,000 Peak Viewers mark, it remains the primary challenger to the Korean (LCK) dominance in terms of both skill and viewership.

5. Next Stop: First Stand 2026 in São Paulo

With the regional dust settled, the focus shifts to the global stage. The qualified teams are heading to São Paulo, Brazil, for the First Stand 2026 championship from March 16 to 22.

With a $1 million prize pool and the pride of eight participating nations on the line, Bilibili Gaming enters the tournament as a heavy favorite. For the Indonesian audience, many of whom have transitioned from mobile titles back to PC classics, the LPL provides the perfect blueprint for aggressive, high-risk gaming that is as fun to watch as it is to play.

Conclusion: A Resilient Ecosystem

The LPL 2026 Split 1 has proven that the league is larger than any single team. By losing legends but gaining a global audience, the LPL has successfully transitioned into a more mature, internationally-appealing product. If BLG can translate this domestic success into a trophy in Brazil, 2026 could very well be the “Year of the Dragon.”

Source Data:

• Esports Charts (https://escharts.com/)

• LPL Official Match Reports

• Riot Games Global Competitive Roadmap 2026