Riot Games reveals the VCT 2026 roadmap

The 2025 Valorant Champions tournament has finally come to an end, and NRG was crowned the ultimate victor of the year. Now, teams are already gearing up for what the next year of competitive Valorant will bring to the table.

Riot Games has already revealed the entire VCT 2026 roadmap, and it seems stacked. From having a completely new and reshaped tournament format to having multiple global events for the year, prospective professionals will want to know about the new qualification systems before jumping into the new year.

Here’s everything you need to know about Riot Games revealing the VCT 2026 roadmap for the competitive Valorant ^[1] year of 2026.

New VCT 2026 tournament formats

Several structural changes will reshape VCT’s tournament format in 2026. Riot has confirmed that all stages of competition will shift from Swiss or group formats to a full bracket system. A triple-elimination bracket will now be used for kickoff events at the beginning of each regional season, providing teams with more games and an opportunity to recover from early losses. The top three finishers from each Kickoff will qualify for the first international event, the Masters Santiago.

Masters 2026 will feature 12 teams, intensifying competition. Each region’s Stage 2 Playoffs will culminate in a live event in different cities. The China league's five-city road tour marks Riot’s most ambitious regional schedule, designed to make each match more meaningful and engaging.

Key format highlights include: 

• Bracket-only tournaments: Swiss and group phases removed from a streamlined, high-stakes format.
• Triple-elimination Kickoff: Teams can lose twice before the knockout, and the top three advance to Masters Santiago.
• Expanded Masters fields: 12 teams per Masters event, ensuring broader international representation.
• Destination finals: Stage 2 Playoffs’ closing weekends to be held in live venues across different host cities.

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Global events and locations for VCT 2026

The 2026 calendar introduces several firsts for the VCT. Latin America and the United Kingdom will host global events for the first time. Riot confirmed the following international tournaments:

• Masters Santiago (February - March 2026): The first global VCT tournament to be hosted in Latin America
• Masters London (June 2026): Bringing the VCT back to Europe mid-season, the UK’s debut is hosting a Masters tournament.
• VCT Champions Shanghai (September - October 2026): The world championship will take place in Shanghai, China.
• Game Changers Championship (November 2026): The all-female global competition will continue its circuit following Champions.

Additionally, VCT China will visit five cities throughout the season, turning its domestic league into a touring spectacle. By spreading major tournaments across new territories, Riot aims to strengthen Valorant’s global presence and offer fans in LATAM, Europe, and Asia more live event access.

New qualification system for Challengers’ Teams

The qualification system for lower-tier teams is undergoing a major overhaul. Riot is retiring the Ascension playoff format and replacing it with a new “Challengers Path to Champions.” Beginning in 2026, each of the four international leagues, America, EMEA, Pacific, and China, will send four Challenger teams to compete in their Stage 2 Playoffs. These teams will qualify through their respective regional circuits or Premier play.

Riot will also cover travel expenses and provide financial stipends for all qualified Challenger squads, addressing one of the biggest obstacles for smaller organizations. Stage points earned across the year will further reward consistent performance. Most importantly, the winning Challenger teams from each region’s Stage 2 Playoffs will qualify directly for Valorant Champions 2026.

Under the new system, top Challenger teams can reach the world championship without partnership status, signaling a key move toward a more open competitive structure. Riot stated that these teams will also share in Champions’ digital revenue and prize pools, a meaningful boost for grassroots organizations.

What the 2026 changes mean for teams and players

The 2026 roadmap has sweeping implications for both top-tier and emerging teams. Expanded international events and larger brackets will intensify the competitive field for established organizations. With fewer safety nets under the all-bracket format, early losses will be far more punishing. Every match now directly determines advancement or elimination, demanding consistency and adaptability from even the most seasoned rosters.

Under the new system, Challenger and Premier players now have greater opportunities to advance. Promising teams can compete internationally thanks to The Path to Champions, which fills the gap between tier-two and tier-one play. Riot’s decision to provide travel support and revenue sharing also signals stronger long-term investment in developing regions. As Leo Faria emphasized, 2026 is “about opening doors for more players and teams across the globe.” He added that it’s also about ‘building a more open ecosystem that empowers the next generation of Valorant stars.

The 2026 season will challenge teams to be more prepared and better coordinated worldwide. With tournaments spread across Chile, the UK, and China, along with multiple regional events throughout the year, teams face a heavier schedule but greater rewards. The roadmap marks the most globally inclusive and competitively ambitious VCT season yet, positioning 2026 as a defining year in Valorant’s evolution as a true international esports.

References

1. [1] "official Valorant homepage". playvalorant.com. Retrieved October 06, 2025