© 2026 Riot Games. All Rights Reserved.
© 2026 Riot Games. All Rights Reserved.
TL;DR:
After a spectacular time at VALORANT Masters London, we’re not slowing down. Stage 2 has even more in store for the region and it all kicks off on July 15.
The climax of the 2026 EMEA season is upon us as we look towards our exhilarating finals in Barcelona to crown our champions and finalise EMEA’s proud representatives for VALORANT Champions Shanghai. It's the first time we take VCT EMEA on the road and we have a lot in store!
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Stage 2 is going to be fast paced, lots of matches, and even more explosive this year as our best Challenger Teams enter the competition. Will they be able to step up to EMEA’s elite and try to upset the status quo?
Here’s everything you need to know about Stage 2.
Before we dive into the format and schedule for Stage 2, here’s a reminder of how the Challenger teams will earn their place in the competition.
In total, four Challenger teams will obtain a spot in the Stage 2 Play-Ins for a chance to battle their way into the Playoffs, onto Barcelona Finals, and potentially onto Champions.
The best teams from across our various regional leagues will compete in season-defining matches at two must-watch events, Challengers EMEA Stage 3 and the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
Challengers EMEA 3 started on June 22 and will see the top three teams advance straight into the Stage 2 Play-Ins.
The final spot in the tournament will be decided through the Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ). Any Challenger team was eligible to compete in the LCQ Play-ins. The top three teams from the Play-ins will advance to the LCQ main event, which begins on July 7, where they will join the remaining teams from Challengers EMEA 3 that did not yet qualify.
Stage 2 will begin with our 12 VCT EMEA teams split into two groups of six during the Group Stage (July 15 - August 2).
Each team will face each of their fellow group members in a single Best-of-Three. The top four teams, two from each group, will then advance directly into the Playoffs while the rest will have to settle for a spot in the Play-Ins.
Groups will last for three weeks, with five show days a week and two Best-of-Threes each day. This means you’ll constantly be able to get your competitive VALORANT fix, especially with huge games every weekend.
Next up will be the Play-Ins (August 6 - 16) as our four qualified Challenger Teams enter the fray.
They will join the additional eight VCT EMEA teams that are still fighting for a Playoff spot and all 12 teams will compete in a double-elimination bracket.
Challenger teams will start in the upper bracket round one, while the VCT EMEA teams that placed 3rd and 4th in their respective groups will earn a bye into the second round of the Upper Bracket.
The Play-Ins will last for two weeks, with each showday featuring two Best-of-Threes. Week 1 will run from Thursday to Sunday, then the following week will expand to Wednesday to Sunday with one extra gameday.
Playoffs is where things heat up even more with eight teams fighting their way to Barcelona Finals, the biggest, most pivotal moment of the season.
Four teams from the Group Stage will join four teams from the Play-Ins in a double-elimination bracket. These matches will be played on the Arena Stage in Berlin so fans can witness the high-pressure matches up close and personal. These crucial matches will take place from Thursday, August 20 to Sunday, August 23, with two Best-of-Threes each day. The winners will advance to the Barcelona Finals!
The 2026 VCT EMEA season will come to a head with an epic three-day weekend inside the Olimpic Arena in Barcelona.
Friday, August 28 will feature two Best-of-Threes, including the Upper Bracket final to decide EMEA’s Champions-qualified team.
Saturday, August 29 will then treat fans to a Best-of-Five in the Lower Bracket final to decide our other Playoffs finalist and Champions qualified team.
The Grand Final will take place on Sunday as the top two teams in EMEA compete in a Best-of-Five for the trophy and to become the region’s top seed at the biggest tournament of the year.
EMEA’s third and fourth seeds for Champions will then be decided based on who accumulated the most Championship Points throughout the year.
Championship Points will be handed out during Stage 2 through the following distributions:
The current standings in EMEA are:
As a reminder, Studio Stage is broadcast-only and therefore the matches will not have tickets available.
Week 1 of Playoffs (August 20-23) will be played on the Arena Stage in Berlin. Tickets for this week will go on sale July 8 at 18:00 CEST at emeatickets.valorantesports.com.
Tickets for Stage 2 Finals in Barcelona are also still on sale but be sure to grab them here before they're gone.
With Challenger Teams getting to step up, our first roadshow in Barcelona, and the biggest matches of the season all to look forward to, we can’t wait for you to join us in what will surely be a rollercoaster. See you there!
