Imladris - The Tolkien license infographic 2026 Update

The Tolkien license infographics (2026 Update)

One of the oft-repeated things that I see confuse Tolkien fans is how the licenses work across the various entities. It became more pronounced over adaptions such as The Lord of the Rings Online (and whether they could cover the land seen in the Hobbit) and especially with the release of Amazon MGM Studio's "The Rings of Power" TV series.

In 2021 I wrote an initial blog post to help explain the Tolkien licenses and then in 2022 I followed up with an infographic which itself was updated again in 2023 in another blog post. The infographic is used on the Tolkien Gateway page for "Licensing" to help illustrate the complexity of the issues.

The infographic was always going to need an update at some point, so I've returned now to do it once again in 2026. As before, some complexities such as the Hobbit distribution rights are not explored here. This infographic should not be taken as the "be all, end all" of the Tolkien licenses. It's illustrative of what there is and hopefully helps explain some of the confusions people will encounter. Where there was once one sheet for the infographic, now there are three, with the second sheet focused on the expanding production of games set within Middle-earth.

After the infographics, I've provided full ALT text for those who need it and also to use when posting on social media and other platforms which don't allow for large amounts of text in their ALT text spaces. 

A quick visual guide to the Tolkien license: 2026 Edition (Part One)

"A closer look at the Tolkien gaming licensees"

Quick visual guide to the Tolkien license Part Two: 2026 Edition

"Tolkien licenses: Digital, curiosities and Q&As"

Quick visual guide to the Tolkien license Part Three: 2026 Edition

🔍 ALT text for the Infographics

Page 01 📜 A quick visual guide to the Tolkien license: 2026 Edition (Part One)

Two license holders:

1) Tolkien Estate (J.R.R. Tolkien’s family) has - 

The works of J.R.R. Tolkien 

TV rights*

Curtis Brown Heritage represents the Tolkien Estate (Since 10 October 2025)

2) Middle-earth Enterprises has –

Products based on The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings only:

Motion Picture

Stage

Merchandising

Other

Embracer owns Middle-earth Enterprises. In 2027 Embracer will

split into two groups:

Embracer 

Fellowship Entertainment

Middle-earth Enterprises will be under Fellowship Entertainment in 2027.

Works of J.R.R. Tolkien (Tolkien Estate)

Harper Collins is the official publisher of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. William Morrow is the US Imprint. News Corp owns Harper Collins and William Morrow.

TV rights (Tolkien Estate)

Amazon MGM Studios produces The Rings of Power since 2017. Amazon works with Harper Collins, New Line Cinema, Wētā Workshop and more.

A Brief History of changing rights

1969: J.R.R. Tolkien sells motion picture, stage, merchandising and other rights to United Artists.

1976: Saul Zaentz buys these rights. Trades as Tolkien Enterprises from 1977.

2010: Tolkien Enterprises is renamed Middle-earth Enterprises.

2022: The Embracer Group buys Middle-earth Enterprises.

Read more on the Tolkien Gateway: https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Licensing

Middle-earth Enterprises has a wide-ranging group of licensees who produce varied content. There are too many to list here in their entirety, so below are examples. You can see the full and current client list here: https://www.middleearth.com/licensing

Motion Picture (Middle-earth Enterprises / Embracer)

Warner Bros.

New Line Cinema

Wētā companies (Wētā FX and Wētā Workshop)

All games set within Middle-earth are through Middle-earth Enterprises - this includes digital, board, card, Tabletop RPG and more. Sophisticated Games oversees all non-film LOTR games. On 7 October 2025, Asmodee announced they are to be the “the exclusive tabletop games category manager” for Middle-earth Enterprises**.

Gaming (Middle-earth Enterprises: Merchandising license)

Asmodee

Sophisticated Games

Contact details

The Green Book of the White Downs: https://greenbookofthewhitedowns.blogspot.com/ 

BlueSky: @timbolton.bsky.social

Page 02 📜 "A closer look at the Tolkien gaming licensees" - Quick visual guide to the Tolkien license Part Two: 2026 Edition

Middle-earth Enterprises (under ownership of the Embracer Group) licenses all games set within Middle-earth.

Tabletop games: board, card, dice and roleplating are under Asmodee and Sophisticated Games.

[Extra note: Sophisticated Games state on their website: “The company develops and packages all non-movie The Lord of the Rings games under license from Middle-earth Enterprises”. Source: https://sophisticated-games.com/about/]

Existing Companies

Mithril Miniatures - Collectable metal and resin miniatures

Games Workshop - Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game

Free League - One Ring Roleplaying & Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E

Ares - War of the Ring & Hunt for the Ring

Thames & Kosmos - The Lord of the Rings: Adventure to Mount Doom &  EXIT: The Lord of the Rings - Shadows Over Middle-earth

Wizards of the Coast - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth & Magic the Gathering: The Hobbit

Kings Wild Project - Lord of the Rings playing cards

Office Dog Games - The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick Taking Game, The Two Towers: Trick Taking Game, The Hobbit: There & Back Again & The Lord of the Rings: Circle of Conflict

Repos Production - The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth & Allies expansion

Z-Man Games - The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship

Zygomatic - Dobble: Quest for the One Ring

New companies [as of 2026]

Ghost Galaxy - The Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation

D20 Culture - Foes of Middle-earth

Q-Workshop - Lord of the Rings dice & accessories

Stone Blade Entertainment - The Lord of the Rings: Ascension

Game Toppers - The Lord of the Rings themed tables & gaming mats

Sirius Dice - The Lord of the Rings Adventure Dice & The Lord of the Rings Treasure Packs

Grand Gamers Guild - Not announced yet

Play to Z - Not announced yet

Restoration Games + Space Cowboys - The Lord of the Rings: The King’s Gambit

Page 03 📜 "Tolkien licenses: Digital, curiosities and Q&As" - Quick visual guide to the Tolkien license Part Three: 2026 Edition

Digital Games

Conqueror Virtual Challenges - The Lord of the Rings, Return of the King & The Hobbit

Standing Stone Games - The Lord of the Rings Online

Free Range Games + North Beach - The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

Wētā Workshop - Tales of the Shire

Warhorse Studios - Open-world Lord of the Rings RPG

License Curiosities

Zarathustra Music + Volante Opera Productions - The Silmarillion, the Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings

The Tolkien Estate have licensed Paul Corfield Godfrey through Zarathustra Music (with Volante Opera Productions) to deliver Operatic musical adaptions of the Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion. This is for Radio and TV concert broadcasts but not for dramatized (Operatic) productions.

Games Systems International - Middle-earth Play-By-Mail

Evolving from the original postal play-by-mail turn-based games, the Middle-earth

PBM game now uses electronic mail to deliver gameplay between human opponents. Game Systems International state the game is inspired by ICE’s Middle-earth Role Playing Game. Interestingly the games are based early in the Third Age or in the Fourth Age.

Q&A section

Q&A: The TV License #1

In 1969 United Artists had the option to purchase TV rights from Tolkien for $5000 but decided not to. Those rights remained with Tolkien when Saul Zaentz bought the other licenses. It was these rights Amazon MGM Studios dipped into for Rings of Power.

Q&A: The TV License #2

The OneRing.net states there is a separation of TV rights. They claim that the Tolkien Estate own the rights to TV series with eight or more episodes. There is no public information to verify this.

Q&A: Why can’t we have Rings of Power merchandise?

Rings of Power, produced by Amazon MGM Studios, is licensed through the Tolkien Estate. Merchandising based on the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is owned by Middle-earth Enterprises. No deal between Amazon and Middle-earth Enterprises for TV-based merchandising currently exists.

Q&A: Why did you not list...

Items listed on the three pages represent active companies still producing Tolkien-based products. I don’t list inactive lines. For example, Fantasy Flight Games have stopped making their LOTR games, so were not listed.

Q&A: Can licenses be lost?

Many licenses operate under conditions. For example, New Line Cinema/Warner Bro have to keep producing films or Embracer will remove their rights. It is no secret that The War of Rohirrim was on a production deadline over rights.

If I missed something...

If I have missed any products please let me know via the contacts noted on here or by other methods you may have talked to me on before.