Level Infinite is combining three regional leagues into the Honor of Kings Major League (KML) to create one global competition.
The 2026 ecosystem will feature five leagues, maintaining key regional representation.
New team rules limit squads to 5–7 players and have strict rules about players from other countries, with special rules for players from Greater China.
They are making major changes to how the Honor of Kings Esports League is organized ahead of the 2026 season. The mobile game, which is very popular in China, is now growing internationally with a simpler league system. Their goal is to make competition more fair, support local players, and build a global esports scene. Here’s everything you need to know.
Honor of Kings Major League Unifies Global Competition
The biggest change comes with the Honor of Kings Major League (KML), which unites three existing regional competitions into a single league:
Wildcard Kings Series (WKS): Covers Southeast Asia (except Thailand and Vietnam), plus Hong Kong and Macau.
Major West League (KMW): Represents Europe, CIS, Turkey, and the Americas.
Major East League (KME): Covers Korea, Japan, South Asia, and MENA.
This change brings teams from different continents into one competition, making it truly international. Level Infinite wants to make the competition tougher and give fans more exciting global matches, while helping Honor of Kings grow around the world.
Five-League Ecosystem
The 2026 Honor of Kings ecosystem will be streamlined into five global leagues. It is down from seven in previous seasons. This includes the newly formed KML and four national leagues, namely: Indonesia (IKL), Philippines (PKL), Malaysia (MKL), and Brazil (CHOKBR).
Meanwhile, professional teams from Hong Kong and Macau will join China’s local esports scene. By doing that, it will make the Greater China competition more connected. Nevertheless, the King Pro League (KPL) will still run on its own. This is to keep the Chinese scene strong while helping the game grow worldwide.
Roster Rules Promote Regional Talent
As for the newly released rules, they show that Level Infinite aims to promote fair competition and support the growth of local players. All teams must include 5–7 players, with a limitation allowing only one player from outside their home region. Each team must have at least two players from their own country and four from the larger region. These guidelines prioritize local talent while still allowing some flexibility.
Meanwhile, Greater China players face the strictest regulations. Leagues will always consider them imports in any other region. This policy prevents Chinese players from dominating international leagues.
This rule also supports the development of local talent elsewhere and maintains fan engagement. Limiting the number of Chinese imports lets regional scenes develop organically and preserves competitive balance.
Conclusion
After reaching a big goal this 2025, it is clear that Level Infinite’s changes are helping Honor of Kings grow around the world in 2026. By joining leagues together, setting team rules, and carefully handling players from other countries, the developer is making the competition fair and helping local scenes grow. This will make global esports more fun and fair. Get ready for the Honor of Kings Global Esports League 2026 because they have a lot planned.
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