New horizons are on the map for VALORANT’s biggest stage.
Riot Games have revealed details for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2026, confirming a wider global reach, new competitive formats, and a direct qualification route for Challenger teams to the biggest stage in VALORANT esports.
Santiago, London, Shanghai: Global events across three continents
The 2026 calendar introduces three major international stops. Santiago will host Masters Santiago, marking the first-ever VCT global event in Latin America. Masters London will bring an international VALORANT event to the United Kingdom for the first time, while Champions Shanghai will close the season as the stage where the next world champion will be crowned.
New formats and expanded competition
The season will begin with Kickoff, featuring a Triple Elimination format designed to increase high-pressure matchups. Masters events will expand to include 12 teams, offering more games and greater stakes.
Stage 2 Playoffs will also evolve into destination events across new cities, while VCT China will take on an ambitious five-city tour, showcasing VALORANT across multiple regions.
Challengers gain a path to Champions
For the first time, Challenger teams will have a direct route to Champions. Four teams will qualify through each International League Stage 2 Playoffs, with Riot Games providing travel assistance, financial stipends, and organisational support to help them compete on the global stage. Teams will also earn points throughout the season, rewarding consistent results across multiple stages.
This new pathway now spans the entire competitive ecosystem: from Premier mode and online qualifiers, into Challengers, on to the International League Playoffs, and ultimately into Champions within a single season.
Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports, described the change as a way of “opening doors for more players and teams around the world.” He added that the aim is to make the VCT “the most exciting and accessible competition in esports,” with the expanded formats and direct qualification giving the next generation of players the opportunity to reach the global stage.
VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 season is set to kick off early next year.
