Manila joins the VCT 2027 global calendar alongside Seoul, Tokyo, Valencia, and other major tournament destinations.
Riot Games, the developer of VALORANT, has confirmed that Manila, Philippines, will host the first VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific Cup in 2027, as part of a revamped competitive circuit featuring more than 50 tournaments across 15 cities worldwide.
In an announcement on Thursday (15 October), Riot Games unveiled the host cities and dates for the upcoming season, which will feature regional Kickoff tournaments, Cups, two international Masters events, and VALORANT Champions 2027.
The Manila tournament will take place from 29 April to 23 May 2027, alongside the first regional Cups in Mexico City, Warsaw, and Wuhan, with teams competing for qualification spots at Masters Valencia. The expanded global tour is part of Riot Games' overhaul of the VCT, which will replace traditional regular-season league play with a tournament-based system and introduce more opportunities for non-partnered teams to compete at the highest level.
Manila to host first VCT Pacific Cup in April 2027
The Manila tournament will be the first of two VCT Pacific Cups in 2027, with Tokyo, Japan, scheduled to host the second from 5 to 29 August.
Under the new competitive format announced in April, Cups will replace regular-season league stages and serve as qualification events for Masters and Champions. These regional tournaments will feature LAN competition across Riot Games studios and dedicated venues, culminating in live finals weekends with spectators.
Riot Games has yet to announce the specific venue for the Manila Cup, participating teams, ticket prices, or ticket sale dates. The exact schedule for live audience matches has also not been confirmed.
Bangkok, Seoul, and Tokyo among VCT 2027 tournament locations
Beyond Manila, Riot Games is bringing the VCT to several major cities across the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China, with each region hosting its own Kickoff tournaments and two Cups throughout the season.
The international calendar will also feature two Masters tournaments, with Seoul, South Korea, hosting the first and Valencia, Spain, hosting the second. Meanwhile, Austin, Texas, will host both VALORANT Champions 2027 and the Game Changers Championship, bringing the competitive season to a close in October.
With tournaments taking place across multiple regions, Riot Games has confirmed the following dates and host cities for the VCT 2027 global tour:
- VCT Kickoff (14 January – 7 February): São Paulo, Berlin, Bangkok, and Hangzhou
- Masters Seoul (20 February – 3 March): Seoul, South Korea
- VCT Cup 1 (29 April – 23 May): Mexico City, Warsaw, Manila, and Wuhan
- Masters Valencia (5–20 June): Valencia, Spain
- VCT Cup 2 (5–29 August): Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Shanghai
- VALORANT Champions and Game Changers Championship (16 September – 10 October): Austin, Texas, United States
How VCT 2027 qualification will work for partnered and non-partnered teams
Beyond the new tournament locations, Riot Games is also overhauling the VCT qualification system, opening more pathways for non-partnered teams to compete against established organisations.
Under the new format, teams will be able to qualify for regional Cups, Masters, and Champions through Open Qualifiers and other competitive routes, without having to earn promotion through the previous Ascension system.
Partnered teams will retain certain benefits, including direct entry into Kickoff, but will no longer be guaranteed places in subsequent Cups. Instead, teams will need to earn their spots based on competitive results.
Riot Games has also introduced guaranteed qualification payments for non-partnered teams that reach major tournaments, separate from tournament prize money:
- Kickoff or regional Cups: US$100,000
- Masters: US$200,000
- Champions: US$400,000
Open Qualifiers for VCT 2027 will begin in November 2026, giving aspiring teams their first opportunity to compete under the revamped system ahead of the season's January launch.
