VCT 2026 Roadmap: All of the massive format changes coming next year

Riot Games has officially unveiled the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2026 roadmap, a season packed with global events across three continents, expanded formats, and new pathways for rising teams. From the return to South America to a groundbreaking “Path to Champions” for Challengers squads, the upcoming year represents the most ambitious iteration of Valorant’s competitive circuit yet.

VCT Global Events Across Three Continents

In 2026, the VCT will travel to South America, Europe, and Asia, marking a diverse spread of global stages.

• Masters Santiago: The season’s first Masters event heads to Chile, making it the first-ever VCT global event in LATAM. This also marks Riot’s first return to South America since LOCK//IN São Paulo in 2023, a symbolic nod to one of Valorant’s most passionate regions.
• Masters London: The UK will make its debut as a host city for international Valorant. This is also a return for VCT to Europe, with London’s infrastructure and fanbase primed to make the event a standout.
• Champions Shanghai: The year will close on Valorant’s biggest stage yet, as Shanghai plays host to VALORANT Champions 2026. This will be the first time Riot crowns a world champion in China, solidifying the region as a cornerstone of the esport’s future.

By staging events across three continents, Riot aims to elevate Valorant’s global profile while giving fans in new regions a chance to experience world-class competition firsthand.

Kickoff 2026: Triple Elimination Format

The 2026 season will open with a Triple Elimination Kickoff, an entirely new format for Valorant. Teams will now face a “three strikes and you’re out” structure, with the top three squads qualifying directly for Masters Santiago.

This shift guarantees a greater number of matches for every team, meaning more storylines, more rivalries, and fewer cases of early exits derailing entire seasons.

Masters Expansion: Bigger Fields, Higher Stakes

The first Masters of 2026 will feature 12 teams, bringing it in line with the second Masters format used previously. Expanding the field increases the number of high-pressure moments and ensures that more teams have international experience earlier in the season. Importantly, it also raises the total amount of Championship Points available, making every match count toward Champions qualification.

By offering larger brackets and higher stakes, Riot is doubling down on international competition as the proving ground for the world’s best.

Regular Season Restructure

Beyond the global stage, Riot is also revamping the international leagues. Gone is the old group format: instead, every team will now play an equal number of matches during the regular season to determine qualification for playoffs. This move ensures fairness and competitive balance, eliminating lopsided schedules that favored some teams over others.

More details will be announced later this year, but the change promises a cleaner and more transparent path to postseason contention.

Stage 2 Playoffs: Destination Finals

Another major change is the introduction of destination events for Stage 2 Playoffs finals across all regions. These live finals will decide which teams qualify for Champions and will now be held in new locations outside the usual league hubs. This gives fans more opportunities to watch top-tier Valorant live, while also raising the prestige of domestic championships.

In China, Riot is going even bigger. The entire 2026 VCT CN circuit will go on tour, visiting five cities throughout the year. This represents the most ambitious single-region schedule in Valorant history, designed to embed the game deeply into China’s esports culture.

Challengers Path to VALORANT Champions 2026

The 2026 season also introduces a new pathway for Challengers teams, designed to create more open competition ahead of the 2027 expansion. Instead of competing for Ascension, Challengers rosters will now fight for spots in Stage 2 Playoffs through a “Path to Champions.”

• Each International League will send four Challengers teams to Stage 2 Playoffs.
• These squads will receive a travel stipend to ensure accessibility.
• Teams will earn Championship Points across both stages, rewarding consistency over one-off success.

For the first time, Challengers teams will have a direct line into Champions, and those that qualify will receive meaningful compensation from digital goods tied to the event. Riot’s clear message: the dream of reaching Valorant’s biggest stage is alive for every level of competitor.

From Ranked to Champions: The Journey

The 2026 system also lays out the full journey from casual competition to the world championship. Players can:

1. Climb Premier’s Invite Division or win a Qualifier for their local Challenger League.
2. Promote into Challengers by defeating incumbent teams.
3. Win their Challenger League to secure a place in Stage 2 Playoffs.
4. Advance through the Path to Champions toward Shanghai.

This pipeline makes Valorant’s competitive ecosystem the most accessible it has ever been, ensuring talent can rise from ranked queues all the way to the world stage.

VCT Changes Summarised

With more global events, expanded Masters fields, and a fully open path to Champions, 2026 marks the beginning of Valorant’s next competitive era. Riot’s willingness to experiment with formats like triple elimination, expand to new regions like LATAM, and integrate pathways from Premier to pro signals an ambitious vision for the esports’ future.

• Global Events: Masters Santiago (LATAM debut), Masters London (UK debut), Champions Shanghai (China debut).
• Kickoff: Triple Elimination format, top 3 qualify to Masters Santiago.
• Masters: 12-team field, more points and matches.
• Regular Season: Equal matches for all teams.
• Stage 2 Playoffs: Live destination events in new locations; VCT CN tours five cities.
• Path to Champions: Four Challengers teams per league into Stage 2 Playoffs, stipends and points system included, qualification by Premier > Challengers > Stage 2 Playoffs > Champions.