TL;DR:

• VCT EMEA Stage 2 will feature more matches, including weekend games. To make this possible, we’ve built a Studio Stage so LEC and VCT EMEA can run simultaneously.
• Stage 2 will start on the broadcast-only Studio Stage. One week of Playoffs will then move to the Arena Stage, before Finals take place in Barcelona.
• This setup supports greater investment in high-impact moments, taking VCT Stage 2 Finals to Barcelona and continued support for LEC Roadtrips.

Starting with Stage 2 on 15 July, VCT EMEA will feature more teams than ever, with Challengers League teams joining the competition. 

More teams means more match days - and more opportunities for fans to follow the action. It also means we needed to think differently about how we schedule and produce both VCT EMEA and the LEC.

To support this, we’ve built a second stage inside the Riot Games Arena in Berlin: the Studio Stage.

This new space allows us to produce and broadcast VCT EMEA and LEC shows at the same time from the same venue, ensuring every match across both leagues can still be enjoyed by fans across EMEA. 

For VCT EMEA fans, this also unlocks something many of you have been asking for: VCT EMEA will now have weekend matches throughout Stage 2. The new Studio Stage will be optimised to support VCT’s expanded schedule through Stage 2, with many more fans able to watch live, follow their favourite teams and experience the Stage 2 competition at times that better suit them. The Studio Stage will also enable a higher degree of stage customisation between products, and give our broadcast teams more opportunities to tailor the broadcast to the product. 

The Studio Stage has been built as a broadcast-first environment, meaning tickets will not be available for matches played there. Fans will still be able to buy tickets for LEC or VCT EMEA matches taking place on the existing stage, now named the Arena Stage. 

We know live audiences are a big part of what makes the Riot Games Arena special, and that some fans will be disappointed not to attend the Studio Stage matches in person. At the same time, creating a dedicated broadcast space ensures fans won’t miss a minute online, while allowing us to increase live event investment across both products.

Most notably, this unlocks a major step forward for VCT EMEA - taking Finals on the road for the first time, with Stage 2 Finals heading to Barcelona. Alongside continued support for much-loved LEC Roadtrips, these investments will help us reach significantly more fans in person across the region.

Looking ahead, we expect the two-stage setup to continue into 2027 as our future vision for both the LEC and VCT EMEA takes shape: creating bigger moments, better viewing windows and more ways for fans across the region to follow the leagues they love.

Further details about 2026 VCT EMEA Stage 2 will be shared following the conclusion of VALORANT Masters London.