K/DA and True Damage to Headline 2026 League of Legends Worlds Finals Opening Ceremony
The ceremony will feature appearances by (G)I-DLE's Soyeon and Miyeon among other artists performing as the virtual groups.
Riot Games has announced that the virtual music groups K/DA and True Damage will perform at the 2026 League of Legends World Championship Finals Opening Ceremony.
The ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, at 2:00 PM local time, which is 4:00 AM KST on November 15 and 9:00 PM Kyiv time.
Riot Games released a teaser video featuring the groups ahead of the finals.
“K/DA. True Damage. Don’t miss a moment of the #Worlds2026 Final Opening Ceremony presented by Mastercard!” the official League of Legends account said.
Confirmed Artist Lineup and Roles
For K/DA, (G)I-DLE's Soyeon will participate as Akali and Miyeon as Ahri, with Sophie Powers as Evelynn and Mimi Webb as Kai'Sa.
As one of League of Legends' signature virtual music groups, K/DA debuted with "POP/STARS" and gained massive popularity through a music project combining game characters with real-world artists.
For True Damage, Soyeon will participate as Akali, Coco Jones as Senna, Vic Mensa as Ekko, and Sofía Reyes as Qiyana.
True Damage is a group that blends hip-hop with a distinct artistic style, debuting in 2019 with "GIANTS".
Soyeon will participate as Akali for both K/DA and True Damage.
Riot Games explained that music has become an integral element of the World Championship, with virtual artists like K/DA and True Damage playing a key role in connecting gaming and music.
The organizers said the performance will combine grand sound, cutting-edge visual effects, and the core values of esports, teamwork and community unity.
Legacy and Production Scale
K/DA debuted at the 2018 finals with “POP/STARS”, while True Damage followed at the 2019 finals with “GIANTS”.
Both groups grew from single ceremony songs into full in-game skin lines and rosters of fan favorites.
Riot Games stated this opening ceremony will feature incredible visuals, grand music, and an electrifying atmosphere.
Through this performance, Riot Games aims to show stunning visual effects and powerful music while highlighting the core esports values built together by artists, teamwork, and the community.
Riot Games emphasizes that music has long been an integral part of the World Championship.
Ceremony as a Branded Event
Mastercard is attached to the ceremony as presenter.
That fits how Riot packages the finals. The ceremony is a branded event on its own, not just a warm-up before game one.
The announcement indicates Riot wants this part watched live. The post asks us not to miss a moment, and the lineup is the pitch.
Riot Games has not confirmed whether the groups will perform live or appear as animated acts, or if there will be new music.
The 2026 League of Legends World Championship Finals will be held on November 14 local US time at the Barclays Center.
