Riot Games Philippines has launched its Road to SMASH 2026 campaign, outlining a series of community and competitive events for “League of Legends: Wild Rift” players and content creators in the country.
At the center of the program is the “Wild Rounds: Pilipinas Open”, the local qualifying tournament that will determine Philippine representatives for the “Wild Rounds: SMASH 2026” international event scheduled in South Korea in November.
The Pilipinas Open began on June 4, with teams currently competing in Split 1, which runs until July. Registration for Split 2 opens on July 6, with competition concluding from Sept. 25 to 27. The top eight teams from each split will compete for a total prize pool of P1 million.
The tournament forms part of Riot’s broader Wild Rounds: SMASH initiative, which combines competitive play with creator-focused events.
In addition to the Community Champions Cup for top players, the event will feature Creator Showmatches that pit content creators against one another in exhibition competitions.
The Philippines is among several countries participating in the lead-up to SMASH 2026, alongside Brazil, China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Türkiye.
Riot is also introducing a separate creator competition running from August to September. Participants will compete in various Wild Rift game modes, including AARAM and 2v2 matches. Winners will earn the opportunity to represent the Philippines at the international SMASH 2026 event.
Alongside the tournament roadmap, Riot announced the launch of its Wild Rift Partner and Nexus Elite Programs, which aim to strengthen engagement with local content creators.
The Partner Program will provide selected members with access to game updates, private community channels, and invitations to special events.
The Nexus Elite Program, meanwhile, will bring together a smaller group of creators who will help shape and promote the Wild Rift ecosystem in the Philippines.
Riot is also preparing several game updates tied to the tournament season, including patches 6C: Dragon Calling and 6D: Rhythms of Memory. The updates are expected to roll out as local qualifiers progress toward the SMASH 2026 finals.
“This initiative reflects the passion of Filipino gamers, whose enthusiasm for Wild Rift motivates us to continuously enhance our local ecosystem,” said Lara Antonio, Wild Rift Asia Pacific regional community lead.
“By strengthening community competitions and connecting with creators of all sizes, we aim to spotlight Filipino gaming talent during SMASH 2026 and future events.”
