© 2025 Riot Games. All Rights Reserved.
© 2025 Riot Games. All Rights Reserved.
With the conclusion of the 2025 season in sight, we’re ready to share details for the next season of VALORANT esports! 2026 will feature more events, new formats, and a massive opportunity for Challengers teams looking for their shot at the Champions trophy.
Global VCT events will visit three different continents in 2026, bringing global events to new and returning locations:
Masters Santiago: The first-ever VCT global event in LATAM, and Riot’s first return to South America since LOCK//IN.
Masters London: The UK’s debut as an international host, bringing VCT back to Europe.
Champions Shanghai: The year’s biggest stage, where the next VALORANT World Champion will be crowned.
In 2026, VCT competition will adopt adjustments across global events and the regular season to expand the stakes of competition and total quantity of matches. From Kickoff to International Leagues to Masters and Champions, we’ll see new changes at each layer.
Kickoff will feature a brand-new Triple Elimination format. Three strikes and you’re out with the top 3 teams qualifying for Masters Santiago. With this change, we’ll see the total number of matches per team and across all our leagues increase.
The first Masters will feature 12 teams, aligning with the format currently used at the second Masters. This means more teams, more matches, more high-pressure moments, and more Championship Points on the line.
The regular season will see a departure from last year’s group format, every team will play an equal number of matches to qualify for each stage’s playoffs. Further details will be shared later this year.
Additionally, the finals of Stage 2 Playoffs that qualify teams for Champions will be hosted as destination events for all leagues, bringing the climax of the regular season to new locations. VCT CN is also going bigger than ever with the entire 2026 circuit going on tour, visiting five cities across the region in the most ambitious single-region schedule to date.
As we get ready to transition into the next phase of the VCT in 2027, in 2026 instead of qualifying for Ascension, Challenger teams will be provided with a “Path to Champions.” For the first time ever, each International League will send four Challengers teams to its Stage 2 Playoffs, giving more teams than ever a path to Champions. Qualifying teams will also be rewarded with a cash stipend to assist with travel and attendance for the playoffs. Teams will accrue points across stages, rewarding long term performance as teams work towards qualification for Stage 2 Playoffs.
This change is reflective of our goal to make the VCT a more open competition, reigniting the dream for rising teams and players worldwide. Teams that qualify to Champions will also earn meaningful rewards, including significant compensation from digital goods tied to the event.
For players who want to make a run at VALORANT’s biggest tournament, here is the journey from Ranked to World Champion:
Rank up and win Invite Division in Premier or win a Qualifier event for your local Challenger League
Defeat the incumbent team to promote and rise into your local Challenger League.
Win your local/regional Challenger League for your spot in the 'Path to Champs'
Region specific details will be shared later this year. To learn more about how qualification from Premier to Challengers works, take a look at our guide from past seasons.
The 2026 season will be unforgettable: more global events, high-stakes formats, expanded Masters competition, and a new open path to Champions. These changes mark the beginning of the next era of VALORANT esports and the start of a more open VCT!
