© 2026 Riot Games. All Rights Reserved.
© 2026 Riot Games. All Rights Reserved.
2027 is going to be a very different year for the VCT. We’re opening the doors to more teams, running more tournaments, putting more money behind teams that earn their way in, and taking the VCT to more cities around the world than ever before.
And since all of that requires going somewhere, we figured we should probably tell you where.
For the past few years, we’ve been working toward a more open VCT, one where a team can emerge locally, earn its way into bigger competitions, and keep going as long as it keeps winning.
In 2027, that becomes the foundation of the entire season.
The new tournament-first structure will be built around Opens, Kickoff, Cups, Masters, and Champions. Across the year, we’ll run more than 50 tournaments, creating more entry points and more meaningful matches for teams around the world.
Partner teams will remain an important part of the ecosystem, but after Kickoff, advancement is about performance. Open teams will have real opportunities to enter the VCT, face established organizations, and earn their way toward the biggest events of the year.
In other words: the players you’ve watched for years are about to meet a lot of players you haven’t heard of yet.
There’s a lot. Here’s the short version:
Kickoff Qualifiers for the 2027 VCT begin in November 2026, giving aspiring teams their first opportunity to earn a place in next year’s competition. Teams will compete through open qualification paths for spots at Kickoff and, as the season continues, additional Opens will create new routes into Cups. There will be more opportunities to come back, make another run, and keep climbing. Find out the details about your closest qualifier here.
The path is open. The first tournaments are almost here. And somewhere in those qualifiers is a team we’ll all be talking about next year.
Maybe it’s yours.
Get your five stack ready. The road to Champions 2027 is just around the corner.
