After an extensive review of our options, we have made the difficult decision to sunset Challengers Oceania in 2026. 

When we first launched the Challengers Oceania tournament, we had hoped to build a long-term, sustainable local ecosystem. Unfortunately, we have not seen the growth we had hoped for, and ultimately the demands of operating the league have outweighed the actual level of interest in terms of viewership and player participation.

With that said, we still see potential in Oceania and want to ensure that there remains a path-to-pro for aspiring VALORANT players in the region. Going forward, players in Oceania can join the VCT ecosystem through Premier where the best team will move on to a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) for a shot at becoming one of four teams qualifying into the VCT Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs.

We will also be looking to support more grassroots and community tournaments for which there has been growing interest.

These changes do not impact Game Changers Oceania, which will continue to run in 2026. 

Qualifying for LCQ via Premier

The top performing Premier teams from the corresponding acts in 2026 will be eligible to participate in an Oceania regional qualifier. The winner of this qualifier will earn a spot at the LCQ. 

And to ensure that top Premier teams from 2025 are rewarded for their performance, we will be placing the top teams from the last 3 acts of 2025 directly into the Invite Division for V26A1 where they will compete against other Premier teams for points.

We look forward to seeing our Oceania Premier teams rise to meet the challenge next year, stay tuned for more.