If you’re aiming to dominate the ranked ladder or simply want to time your climb perfectly, understanding League of Legends season start and end dates is more important than ever. Each new LoL season marks a reset – not just of your rank, but of the entire game’s meta and competitive landscape. Planning around these changes gives you a strategic edge and ensures you’re ready for every split, patch, and reward.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about LoL season timelines, recent structural changes, ranked rewards, and how to prepare for each new chapter on Summoner’s Rift.
Why Knowing LoL Season Start and End Dates Matters
Every year, Riot Games reinvigorates the League of Legends experience with massive updates, balancing patches, and thematic overhauls. The start of a new season isn’t just ceremonial – it resets ranked progress, introduces game-altering features, and often signals the debut of powerful new champions.
Mastering the timing of each season can help you:
Plan your ranked grind
Maximize reward eligibility
Adjust strategies around new metas
Participate in limited-time events
By staying informed, you ensure you never miss the opportunity to capitalize on the best parts of each League season.
Current League of Legends Season Breakdown (2025)
Season 15 brought major structural shifts to how the League calendar works. Riot Games moved away from a single continuous season model, introducing a three-split structure instead – each with its own theme, updates, and rank resets.
Season 15 Overview
Season 15 Start Date: January 9, 2025
Season 15 End Date: December 9, 2025 (expected)
Format: Three thematic seasons, each split into two acts (~16 weeks per season)
Current Split: Spirit Blossom (15.2)
Start Date: April 29, 2025
End Date: August 12, 2025
Theme: Spirit Blossom
New Features:
Spirit-themed map aesthetics
Seasonal rank reset and climb
Continued presence of Atakhan, the jungle monster introduced in Split 1
Key Features of the 2025 Season Format
Riot’s revamped format brings new depth to each competitive phase. Here’s what makes the 2025 structure unique:
Thematic Seasons
Split One (Noxus Theme): Focused on strength and domination, with Noxian-inspired map visuals and gameplay tweaks.
Split Two (Spirit Blossom): Embraces mysticism and fantasy aesthetics, offering immersive visuals and new storylines.
Split Three (TBD): Expected to wrap up the year in December with another major thematic twist.
Seasonal Jungle Monster – Atakhan
Introduced in 2025, Atakhan spawns at the 20-minute mark, replacing the Elder Dragon as a game-defining objective. Its arrival shifts teamfight priorities and encourages late-game comeback plays.
Ranked Updates
Act-based rank resets to encourage consistent engagement
Enhanced post-match analysis tools
Seasonal challenges and progression tracking
LoL Esports Season Start Dates (2025)
Each year, Riot’s pro leagues ignite shortly after the ranked season begins. Here’s when the 2025 pro action kicked off:
LPL (China): January 12
LCK (Korea): January 15
LEC (Europe): January 18
LTA (Latin America): January 25
Although pro league schedules differ slightly from ranked seasons, their start still marks the global launch of the competitive year.
Historical League of Legends Season Timeline
Understanding past seasons helps forecast future updates and reveals Riot’s evolving design philosophy. Here’s a complete breakdown of when each season started and ended:
| Season | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 13, 2010 | August 23, 2011 |
| 2 | November 29, 2011 | November 12, 2012 |
| 3 | February 1, 2013 | November 11, 2013 |
| 4 | January 10, 2014 | November 11, 2014 |
| 5 | January 21, 2015 | November 11, 2015 |
| 6 | January 20, 2016 | November 8, 2016 |
| 7 | December 8, 2016 | November 7, 2017 |
| 8 | January 16, 2018 | November 12, 2018 |
| 9 | January 23, 2019 | November 19, 2019 |
| 10 | January 10, 2020 | November 10, 2020 |
| 11 | January 8, 2021 | November 15, 2021 |
| 12 | January 7, 2022 | November 14, 2022 |
| 13 | January 11, 2023 | January 9, 2024 |
| 14 | January 10, 2024 | January 6, 2025 |
| 15.1 (Noxus) | January 9, 2025 | April 15, 2025 |
| 15.2 (Spirit Blossom) | April 29, 2025 | August 12, 2025 |
| 15.3 (TBD) | August 26, 2025 | December 9, 2025 |
How Season Rewards Work in League of Legends
Rewards are more than just cosmetics – they’re proof of your skill and perseverance.
Ranked Rewards
Victorious Skins: Awarded to players who hit at least Gold by the end of a split.
Season Emblems & Summoner Icons: Given based on your final rank.
Ranked Borders: Appear on loading screens and profile banners.
Split-Based Rewards Table
| Split | Points Needed | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | 750 | Victorious Champion Emote |
| Summer | 500 | Exclusive Ward Skin |
| Fall | 1000 | Victorious Skin Chroma |
The more you play ranked, the more points you earn – so consistent activity leads to greater rewards.
Preparing for a New League Season: Pro Tips
To start the season strong and maximize your success:
1. Refine Your Champion Pool
Stick to 3–5 champions that are meta-relevant and ones you’ve mastered. This consistency boosts win rates.
2. Understand Your Role Deeply
Whether you main jungle, ADC, or support, knowing optimal pathing, matchups, and itemization is key.
3. Track Patch Updates
Meta shifts can drastically impact champion viability. Stay up to date with patch notes and tier lists.
4. Communicate and Collaborate
Effective communication during ranked games turns solo queue into team synergy. Use pings wisely and tilt less.
Looking Ahead: Predicting Future LoL Season Dates
While Riot follows a fairly consistent seasonal structure, slight shifts may occur. Here’s a prediction based on current trends:
Season 16 (2026) Start Estimate: Early January 2026
Split 1 End: Mid-April 2026
Split 2 Start: Late April 2026
Final Split: August–December 2026
Conclusion: Stay Ahead of the Game
From its humble beginnings in 2010 to the structured, narrative-rich experiences of 2025, League of Legends continues to evolve. Understanding season start and end dates, reward systems, and format changes equips you to succeed – whether you’re grinding for Gold or aiming for Challenger.
As the game grows and innovates, staying informed and adaptable is your greatest advantage. Plan your season. Master your mains. Secure your rewards.
Now’s the time to prepare for the rest of Season 15 and beyond. GG, Summoner.
