VCT Ascension EMEA 2025: Full Guide With Teams, Dates & Format

The biggest opportunity in VALORANT’s EMEA scene is just around the corner. VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 officially kicks off on October 18, bringing together the region’s eight best Challenger teams for a high-stakes tournament that could change their futures forever.

For the first time in history, two teams will earn promotion to VCT EMEA 2026, opening the gateway to the global VALORANT Champions Tour. It’s the most ambitious iteration of Ascension yet — bigger, bolder, and hosted entirely at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin.

This year, the event is doubling down on its community-first approach with a revamped broadcast and a LAN environment designed to give fans unprecedented access to the players’ personalities and journeys.

VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 Format

Ascension EMEA 2025 introduces a fresh structure that prioritizes both excitement and clarity. The tournament will feature eight qualified teams from the EMEA Challengers circuit:
ULF Esports, BBL PCIFIC, Twisted Minds, Enterprise Esports, Mandatory, Joblife, DNSTY, and FOKUS.

These teams will be split into two groups of four, competing in a GSL-style double-elimination format where every match is a best-of-three.

Teams will face opponents with identical records—win twice and move on to an Ascension Match; lose twice and the dream ends early. This structure ensures that every map, round, and clutch moment carries enormous weight.

All Group Stage matches will take place inside Riot’s Pro Player High Performance Rooms, specially designed to immerse both players and fans in the competition. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Ascension Matches, where they’ll step onto the main stage at the Riot Games Arena in front of a live audience.

Each Ascension Match will be a best-of-five showdown, determining which organizations secure their spot in VCT EMEA 2026.

The competition will be played on Patch 11.07, featuring the current seven-map pool: Abyss, Ascent, Bind, Corrode, Haven, Lotus, and Sunset.

VCT Ascension EMEA – Dates and Schedule

VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 unfolds across nine intense days of competition:

• October 18: Group Stage Day 1 – Group A (two Bo3s)
• October 19: Group Stage Day 2 – Group B (two Bo3s)
• October 20: Group Stage Day 3 – Loser Matches (both groups)
• October 21: Group Stage Day 4 – Winner Matches (both groups)
• October 22: Group Stage Day 5 – Decider Matches (both groups)
• October 23–24: Dark Days (no matches)
• October 25: First Ascension Match – one Bo5
• October 26: Second Ascension Match – one Bo5

Group Stage matches will begin daily at 5:00 PM CEST, while both Ascension Matches will start at 6:00 PM CEST on their respective days.

With two back-to-back promotion finals on consecutive nights, the last weekend of October promises to be one of the most thrilling in EMEA VALORANT history.

VCT Ascension EMEA – Broadcast Details

Even though the Group Stage will not feature a live audience, Riot is introducing a new, intimate broadcast experience that brings fans closer to the action than ever before.

The on-air talent will be stationed on a casual couch set, reacting live to matches and engaging with fans in real time. Expect fun, spontaneous segments, co-streaming opportunities, and appearances from Ascension players, team staff, and VCT EMEA pros who are still in Berlin.

This new approach aims to make the early days of Ascension feel like a community watch party — celebrating the passion and energy that define VALORANT esports.

For the final two days, the show will transition back to the traditional live event format, broadcast from the Riot Games Arena in front of a roaring audience. These Ascension Matches will feature the full production scale of a VCT event, complete with an on-site crowd, top-tier casters, and emotional storylines ready to unfold.

Tickets and Fan Experience

Riot is ensuring that the fans who have supported these teams all season long get a chance to be part of their biggest moments yet.

After the conclusion of the Group Stage on October 22, a limited number of additional tickets for the two Ascension Matches will be released on October 23 at 3:00 PM CEST via Riot’s website.

Given the stakes and the limited seating, fans are encouraged to act fast — these matches will likely sell out within hours.

The audience will witness history as two of EMEA’s most promising rosters claim their place among the region’s elite, earning not just promotion, but prestige, prize money, and entry into the global spotlight.

A New Era for EMEA VALORANT

With two promotion slots up for grabs and a fully LAN-based structure, VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 is more than a tournament — it’s a statement about the growing depth and talent of the region.

From veteran organizations like BBL PCIFIC and FOKUS, to new powerhouses like ULF Esports and Mandatory, every team enters with the same mission: earn the chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Europe’s best in 2026.

As the countdown to Berlin begins, all eyes turn to the next generation of EMEA stars. Ascension isn’t just about moving up—it’s about proving that you belong on the world stage.

Two Teams, One Dream: The Road to VCT EMEA

• Event: VCT Ascension EMEA 2025
• Dates: October 18–26
• Venue: Riot Games Arena, Berlin
• Teams: ULF Esports, BBL PCIFIC, Twisted Minds, Enterprise Esports, Mandatory, Joblife, DNSTY, FOKUS
• Format: GSL groups (Bo3) → 2 Ascension Matches (Bo5)
• Patch & Map Pool: Patch 11.07 – Abyss, Ascent, Bind, Corrode, Haven, Lotus, Sunset
• Tickets: On sale October 23 at 3 PM CEST

Two teams rise, six fall. Only the strongest will claim their place in VCT EMEA 2026.