The 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) is jam-packed with action, from intense International Leagues to massive global events like Masters and Champions. However, with so many competitions happening throughout the year, keeping track of them all can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve broken down all major VALORANT tournaments in 2026, including the dates, formats, teams, prize pools, and key narratives shaping the season.
VCT 2026: China Kickoff
The inaugural VCT 2026: Kickoff marked an electrifying start to the VALORANT esports calendar, adopting a unique triple-elimination format to determine the three teams qualifying for Masters Santiago.
Naturally, the event delivered many unexpected upsets, headlined by an incredible championship run by All Gamers. After entering with only a 7.14% implied probability of victory, the underdogs stormed the Upper Bracket, dismantling NOVA and BLG 2-0 before beating DRG 2-1 and XLG 3-2 for the top seed.
Following their defeat, XLG managed to secure the second seed, beating BLG 3-2 in the Mid Bracket Final, while EDG tore through JDG (2-1), TYL (2-1), DRG (2-1), and BLG (3-1) in the Lower Bracket for the final seed.
- Location: Poly World Trade Center Expo in Guangzhou, China
- Start Date: Jan. 22, 2026
- End Date: Feb. 9, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: N/A
- Winner: All Gamers
VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff
VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff embraced the same radical triple-elimination format, but was ultimately defined by the collapse of the region’s traditional titans.
After early exits from both Sentinels and LOUD, Brazilian crew FURIA went on a miracle run. Their championship journey began by reverse-sweeping KRÜ 2-1, followed by statement wins over SEN 2-0 and G2 2-1 before edging out heavyweights MIBR 3-2 to secure the region’s top seed at VALORANT Masters Santiago.
Unfortunately, MIBR’s hopes of securing a Masters berth were snuffed out after a 0-3 sweep by G2 in the Mid Bracket Final, followed by a heartbreaking 2-3 loss to NRG in the Lower Bracket Final.
- Location: Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, United States
- Start Date: Jan. 15, 2026
- End Date: Feb. 15, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: N/A
- Winner: FURIA
VCT 2026: EMEA Kickoff
The EMEA circuit was arguably the most unpredictable of the four regions, yet it pulled no punches in determining which European teams would qualify for Masters Santiago.
Undoubtedly, the most heartbreaking upset involved FNATIC, the most decorated team in EMEA history, who narrowly missed qualification for the first global event. Meanwhile, BBL Esports proved their mettle by tearing through PCF (2-1), FNC (2-0), VIT (2-0), and M8 (3-2) after a flawless run to secure the top seed.
The second seed went to M8 after an intense 3-2 victory over FNC in the Mid Bracket Final, while the final Masters spot was claimed by Liquid, after clawing their way through almost the entire Lower Bracket.
- Location: Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany
- Start Date: Jan. 20, 2026
- End Date: Feb. 15, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: N/A
- Winner: BBL Esports
VCT 2026: Pacific Kickoff
VCT 2026: Pacific Kickoff didn’t disappoint, with Nongshim RedForce, T1, and Paper Rex emerging as the region’s Masters Santiago qualifiers.
Despite T1’s early stumble into the Middle Bracket, it was Nongshim that ultimately stole the show. After defending their partner slot via Ascension 2025, the South Koreans went undefeated, beating TS (2-0), T1 (2-1), FS (2-0), and RRQ (3-2) to lift the trophy by riding the double-Duelist meta with Dambi’s Neon.
Following their victory, Nongshim wrote the ultimate underdog story, becoming the first Ascension team in history to claim a regional VCT title.
- Location: Sangam Colosseum in Seoul, South Korea
- Start Date: Jan. 22, 2026
- End Date: Feb. 15, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: N/A
- Winner: Nongshim RedForce
VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026
Nongshim RedForce delivered one of the most dominant campaigns at VALORANT Masters Santiago, making history as the first-ever Ascension team to win an international trophy.
After entering as the Pacific #1 seed with a Playoffs bye, Nongshim steamrolled the competition, dropping only a single map throughout the event. Their indomitable run began with victories over M8 (2-0), G2 (2-1), and NRG (2-0) before sweeping PRX 3-0 in an all-Pacific Final for the Masters Santiago trophy.
Led by Dambi’s explosive Neon play and Xross’ absurd mechanical form, Nongshim conceded only 18 rounds across the entire Final series to firmly establish themselves as the new team to beat.
- Location: Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile
- Start Date: Feb. 28, 2026
- End Date: March 15, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Winner: Nongshim RedForce
VCT 2026: China Stage 1
Despite an uncharacteristically shaky performance at Masters Santiago, EDward Gaming managed to reclaim their domestic crown at VCT 2026: Stage 1 in China.
The 2024 world champions exited Groups with a 4-1 record and carried that momentum into Playoffs, beating DRG 2-1, All Gamers 2-0, and XLG 2-0 to reach the Final. Once there, they defeated XLG again 3-2 in a revenge match, behind another standout performance from Regular Season MVP ZmjjKK.
Following their dominant Stage 1 run, EDward Gaming have locked in a spot at both VALORANT Masters London and Esports World Cup 2026.
- Locations: West Lake Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China (Group Stage & Seed Deciders); Shougang Ice Hockey Arena in Beijing, China (Playoffs)
- Start Date: March 31, 2026
- End Date: May 10, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: N/A
- Winner: EDward Gaming
VCT 2026: EMEA Stage 1
After years of painful runner-up finishes, Team Heretics finally broke their curse by defeating Team Vitality 3-2 in one of the most intense EMEA Finals in recent memory.
After exiting Groups with a modest 3-2 record, Heretics quickly tumbled into the Lower Bracket. However, the EMEA giants responded with an absurd resurgence. They took down BBL (2-0), FNC (2-1), EF (2-1), and FUT (3-1) before edging out Vitality 3-2 in a nail-biting Grand Final.
Wo0t delivered another monstrous Duelist performance throughout the event, while benjyfishy’s clutch heroics sealed Heretics’ first-ever VCT trophy. Following the win, Heretics secured direct qualification to the Playoffs at VALORANT Masters London.
- Location: Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany
- Start Date: April 1, 2026
- End Date: May 17, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: N/A
- Winner: Team Heretics
VCT 2026: Pacific Stage 1
Pacific Stage 1 delivered yet another brutal chapter for the region, with Paper Rex, FULL SENSE, and Global Esports all securing qualification to Masters London.
Initially, all eyes were on Nongshim, but PRX soon stole the spotlight by going 4-1 in Groups and earning a direct bye into the Semifinals. Despite being knocked into the Lower Bracket by GE, the Singaporean giants later recovered by eliminating DRX and T1 2-1 before sweeping GE for a spot in the Finals.
PRX then beat FS 3-0 to lift a fourth straight Pacific trophy, thanks to standout performances from f0rsakeN, something, and Jinggg.
- Locations: Sangam Colosseum in Seoul, South Korea (Group Stage & Playoffs); Thiskyhall Sala Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (Top 4)
- Start Date: April 3, 2026
- End Date: May 17, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: N/A
- Winner: Paper Rex
VCT 2026: Americas Stage 1
With the race to Masters London firmly underway, Stage 1 has already produced another chaotic domestic split.
After a brutal Group Stage, only G2 and MIBR managed to tap into their Kickoff momentum, locking in favorable Playoff seeds. Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses like NRG and LOUD sit at the brink of elimination in the Lower Bracket, which left die-hard fans waiting for a miracle run.
Despite SEN suffering yet another disappointing early exit, and that hard fought MIBR #1 seed not preventing an 0-2 exit in playoffs, expectations remain sky-high as the region fights for the last three spots at VALORANT Masters London.
- Location: Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, United States
- Start Date: April 10, 2026
- End Date: May 24, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: N/A
- Winner: TBD
VALORANT Masters London 2026
Masters London represents the first time a global VALORANT event is hosted in the UK. Like Santiago, 12 of the world’s best teams will converge to fight for all-important Champions Points, which could prove crucial in securing a seat at Champions Shanghai.
It all begins with an eight-team Swiss Stage featuring the 2nd- and 3rd-place teams from each region. From there, the top four teams will advance to a double-elimination Playoffs bracket and join the four regional league champions in a battle for the Masters London trophy.
- Location: Copper Box Arena in London, United Kingdom
- Start Date: June 6, 2026
- End Date: June 21, 2026
- Teams: 12
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Winner: TBD
Esports World Cup 2026
After a successful debut, VALORANT returns to the Esports World Cup (EWC) for a second time.
Although it’s not part of the official VCT circuit, the tournament will invite the defending champions Team Heretics alongside four regional Stage 1 champions and 11 qualifying teams for a shot at life-changing prize money.
While the structure remains largely intact from last year, the Group Stage has been upgraded to a full best-of-three GSL-style double-elimination bracket, promising even more explosive plays.
- Location: Esports Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia *
- Start Date: Jul. 2, 2026
- End Date: Jul. 12, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $2,000,000
- Winner: TBD
Note: According to a report by GamesBeat, EWC 2026 is expected to move to Paris, France, but the venue has not yet been confirmed.
VCT 2026: China Stage 2
VCT 2026: China Stage 2 is the final gateway to Champions Shanghai, offering direct qualification to the top two contenders alongside valuable Championship Points toward the final regional standings.
The tournament runs as a multi-city roadshow, with the round-robin Group Stage taking place in Changsha, Hunan, and double-elimination Play-Ins and Playoffs brackets hosted in Chengdu, Sichuan.
At the same time, Stage 2 will debut the Path to Champions program, which gives four Challenger teams a chance to qualify directly to Champs via Play-Ins. With the ultimate trophy waiting in Shanghai, the road to hometown glory has never looked more cutthroat!
- Location: Changsha and Chengdu, China
- Start Date: TBD
- End Date: TBD
- Teams: 14
- Prize Pool: $250,000
- Winner: TBD
VCT 2026: EMEA Stage 2
For years, the European split has been locked to Berlin, but now, Riot is taking the Finals to the historic Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona in Badalona, Spain.
Even better, franchised teams will be reshuffled into two groups of six, with only the top two teams from each group advancing to the Playoffs. The rest will move to a double-elimination Play-In bracket to face four Challenger teams for the remaining four Playoff spots.
This brutal gauntlet injects massive volatility, which means legacy powerhouses could be easily taken down.
- Location: Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany; Olimpic Arena in Badalona, Spain (Finals Weekend)
- Start Date: July 15, 2026
- End Date: Aug. 30, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $250,000
- Winner: TBD
VCT 2026: Pacific Stage 2
The Pacific circuit has been an absolute bloodbath. Meta disruptors like Nongshim RedForce blindsided the region by winning both Kickoff and Masters Santiago, while staples like Paper Rex fought desperately in Stage 1 to reassert their veteran status.
With the region already turned upside down, Riot is also breaking tradition. Notably, Stage 2 will return to South Korea, starting in its usual Seoul studio before migrating to Busan for the Playoffs, where the action will unfold in front of a roaring live audience.
The event will otherwise mirror the EMEA Stage 2 structure, weeding out the weak before Champs.
- Location: Seoul and Busan, South Korea
- Start Date: TBD
- End Date: TBD
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $250,000
- Winner: TBD
VCT 2026: Americas Stage 2
VCT 2026: Americas Stage 2 follows the same blueprint and Path to Champions layout as EMEA and Pacific. However, Riot is adding its own regional flair by kicking things off from Los Angeles before moving south to São Paulo, Brazil, for a major arena roadshow.
Adding to the excitement, four Challenger teams will enter through Play-Ins, while rising threats like MIBR and Leviatán will attempt to push legacy giants NRG and G2 Esports to the limit. All things considered, VCT 2026: Americas Stage 2 should be absolutely ruthless.
- Location: Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, United States; Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil
- Start Date: TBD
- End Date: TBD
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $250,000
- Winner: TBD
VALORANT Champions 2026
The annual VALORANT world championship heads to Shanghai, marking China’s first time hosting Champs after NRG’s dramatic 3-2 victory over FNC at the VCT Champions Finals in Paris last year.
As usual, Champs promises to be as unforgiving as ever, but carries even greater historical weight in 2026. Alongside the Path to Champions program offering Challenger teams direct placement via Stage 2 Play-Ins, the tournament will be the last of its kind under the VCT’s traditional regional league structure.
This follows Riot’s decision to replace seasonal round-robins with a unified all-tournament format in 2027. As a result, VALORANT Champions Shanghai will be the last dance for teams hoping to immortalize their names heading into the new era.
- Location: Shanghai, China
- Start Date: Sep. 24, 2026
- End Date: Oct. 18, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $2,250,000
- Winner: TBD
Esports Nations Cup 2026
The inaugural Esports Nations Cup debuts as a new biennial country-based competition expanded from the EWC. Unlike regular tournaments, players will represent their nations directly instead of their clubs.
Teams qualify through direct invites based on a national team ranking system (16 slots), regional qualifiers (14), and wildcards (2), and compete across a round-robin Group Stage and single-elimination Playoff bracket.
With a jaw-dropping $1.5 million on the line, the stage is set for only the most heated national rivalries.
- Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia *
- Start Date: Nov. 8, 2026
- End Date: Nov. 15, 2026
- Teams: 32
- Prize Pool: $1,500,000
- Winner: TBD
Note: While not yet confirmed, the Esports Nations Cup is expected to move outside Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
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