VALORANT EMEA Clash announced – complete guide to EMEA Challengers, Game Changers, and Premier in 2026

The 2026 VALORANT EMEA season begins right after the new year, and it is set to be one of the most ambitious and interconnected competitive years the region has seen. Riot Games is introducing brand-new tournaments, such as the VALORANT EMEA Clash, , while also expanding the number of pathways that can lead teams toward VCT EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs, and ultimately, Champions Shanghai. Across Challengers, Game Changers, and Premier, the focus for 2026 is clear: more competition, more opportunity, and clearer progression from tier two to the international stage. From January onward, teams across EMEA will be fighting not just for regional titles, but potentially a berth at Champions.

Introducing VALORANT EMEA Clash

Running alongside VCT EMEA Kickoff, VALORANT EMEA Clash is a brand-new tournament designed to bridge the gap between Challengers and the VCT. Taking place from February 16 to 26, the event features VCT EMEA teams that fail to qualify for Masters Santiago going head-to-head with the strongest Challenger squads.

The action begins early, with regional Challenger Leagues starting as soon as January 5 and running through February 12, depending on the region. While each league is free to set its own dates and formats, all roads lead into an intense early-season window alongside VCT EMEA Kickoff. During this same period, VCT EMEA Kickoff will be underway, and teams that fail to qualify for Masters Santiago will not be sidelined. Instead, they will be invited to compete in VALORANT EMEA Clash, a brand-new crossover event that pits VCT teams against the strongest Challenger squads.

Scheduled for February 16–26, EMEA Clash is designed to deliver high-stakes matchups and upset potential similar to what fans saw in Project Blender. The event bridges the gap between Kickoff and Masters Santiago, keeping competition alive while showcasing rising Challenger talent. It also provides invaluable experience for Challenger teams that may later reach VCT EMEA Stage 2, while giving VCT teams a chance to regroup before Stage 1 begins.

Hey VAL fans!

I’m super pumped to see what goes down at the Tier 1 vs. Tier 2 event — hoping for a bunch of surprises and upsets!

Challengers EMEA 3 will run from June 22 to July 6, and then we’re following it up with a final LCQ-style tournament in mid-July to award the last…

— Daniel Ringland (@RiotStupendous) December 17, 2025

Challengers EMEA: Three Stages, New Twists

VALORANT EMEA Challenger Leagues will once again follow a three-stage seasonal format, but the journey through 2026 will look notably different. The season opens with Kickoff-style tournaments in every regional league, where teams will compete not only for early bragging rights but also for qualification into Challengers EMEA Stage 1 and the newly introduced VALORANT EMEA Clash.

Later in the year, Challenger teams will gain multiple routes into VCT EMEA Stage 2 Play-Ins, a critical gateway that can carry teams all the way to the first-ever VCT EMEA destination event and potentially Champions Shanghai. For tier-two organizations, 2026 offers the most direct and realistic route yet toward the global stage.

Challengers EMEA Tournaments in 2026

The three main Challengers EMEA tournaments return later in the year:

• Challengers EMEA Stage 1: March 16 – March 31

• Challengers EMEA Stage 2: May 18 – May 28

• Challengers EMEA Stage 3: June 22 – July 6

Ahead of Stages 1 and 2, every regional league will host an additional Qualifier Tournament. The top two teams from each region—along with four from the NORTH//EAST region—will qualify, creating 14-team tournaments for each stage.

Stage 3 introduces a higher-stakes qualification system. Eight top-performing regional teams will earn direct slots, including two each from NORTH//EAST and MENA Resilience, plus one each from France Revolution, DACH Evolution, Spain Rising, and Türkiye Birlik. These teams will be joined by eight more via circuit points, forming a 16-team event with direct implications for VCT EMEA advancement.

Ascending Into VCT EMEA Stage 2 Play-In

From Challengers EMEA Stage 3, four teams will earn places in the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Play-Ins. The top three finishers qualify immediately, while the final spot is decided through a high-pressure Last Chance Qualifier. Though format details will be revealed later, the LCQ will be designed to be an unforgiving, do-or-die event where every map could define whether your season continues or ends.

Game Changers EMEA Expands in 2026

Game Changers EMEA returns in 2026 with its core structure intact: a Kickoff event followed by three stages, each featuring 10 teams. However, the ecosystem expands significantly with the introduction of the Game Changers EMEA Circuit.

This new circuit combines regional competitions with monthly online Cash Cups, giving women across EMEA more opportunities to compete, earn prize money, and collect ranking points. Cash Cups are open to both regional and GC EMEA teams and are designed as fast-paced, accessible tournaments.

Strong performances in these Cash Cups can lead to promotion into Game Changers EMEA Stage 3 Play-Ins and potentially the Game Changers Championship. In addition, regional teams can qualify for Promotion/Relegation tournaments, with two such events scheduled in 2026, offering multiple chances to break into the top tier.

Premier and the Path to Pro

Premier remains the foundation of VALORANT’s Path to Pro. The in-game competitive system returns in 2026 with the same format as 2025, continuing to offer two major promotion opportunities into Challengers over the calendar year. For aspiring players and amateur teams, Premier is still the first step toward turning ranked success into professional opportunity.

Across Challengers, Game Changers, and Premier, the 2026 EMEA season is built around accessibility and progression. With EMEA Clash connecting tiers, expanded qualification routes into VCT, and more competitive opportunities at every level, the road to Champions has never been clearer or more competitive.