Level Infinite revealed upcoming modifications to the regional league framework for the 2026 Honor of Kings international esports season.
A primary change involves the establishment of the Honor of Kings Major League (KML), a novel inter-regional competition formed by combining the WKS, KMW, and KME leagues.
The game’s creator additionally disseminated revisions to its team composition regulations, aiming to foster ‘a more balanced competitive environment’ and enable ‘indigenous players to excel.’
As per the declaration, four national leagues will continue in 2026, alongside the KML. These leagues cater to Indonesia (IKL), the Philippines (PKL), Malaysia (MKL), the new KML, and Brazil (CHOKBR)
Consequent to these modifications, the Wildcard Kings Series (WKS – covering Southeast Asia excluding Thailand and Vietnam, along with Hong Kong and Macau), the Major West League (KMW – encompassing Europe, CIS, Turkiye, and the Americas combined), and the Major East League (KME – including Korea, Japan, South Asia, and MENA) have all amalgamated into the single international league.
Moreover, Level Infinite disclosed that professional Honor of Kings competitive teams originating from Macau and Hong Kong are slated to rejoin the esports framework of the Chinese Mainland.
These alterations represent the newest developments in Honor of Kings’ strategy for worldwide esports growth, aimed at bolstering its international market presence. As a result, Level Infinite’s global esports structure transitions from comprising seven leagues to now encompassing five.
In addition to these competitions, Honor of Kings maintains its distinct franchised league, the King Pro League (KPL), which operates within China.
Team Composition Regulations for 2026
Beyond the modifications to the regional league framework, Level Infinite presented revisions to its player roster guidelines for the upcoming 2026 Honor of Kings season.
According to an online publication, competing teams are required to comprise a minimum of five and a maximum of seven members. Moreover, every team is permitted to enroll a single player who does not reside in their primary regional division.
Nonetheless, every roster is mandated to include a minimum of two players who are citizens of the nation the team represents, and at least four players overall who are residents of the specified regional division.
Furthermore, limitations will be imposed on competitors hailing from the Greater China division, an area where the esports game holds significant sway; these players will be designated as import players in all other divisions, ‘without any exemptions’.
This article, detailing Honor of Kings’ establishment of a new worldwide esports league for 2026, was initially published by Esports Insider.
