TL;DR: Riot Games has unveiled additional details for VCT 2027, including an expanded list of regional competitions, financial rewards, and qualification paths to Cups and Global Events.
Date: June 18, 2026 – Los Angeles
What You Need to Know:
12-Team Triple Elimination Kickoffs Return
- Kickoff tournaments in VCT Americas, EMEA, and Pacific will feature 12 teams:
- Performance Determines Progression
- Partner Teams that fail to place highly at Cups or Masters will move into Open Playoffs and must earn their way back into top-tier competition.
- Partner Teams without previous results, or teams eliminated early in Open competition, will begin again through Open Qualifiers.
- The system creates continuous promotion and relegation throughout the season, ensuring every match carries competitive consequences.
- South Asia and Oceania will qualify through the Pacific Wild Card pathway.
14 Regional Competitions Feed the Global Ecosystem
Regional competitions will serve as the foundation for qualification into Cups:
- Expanded Opportunities Across Pacific
- Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam will become dedicated regional competitions within VCT Pacific.
- The expansion creates new pathways for teams and players across some of VALORANT's fastest-growing competitive regions.
- VCT China Maintains Visitor Team Model
- VCT China will continue utilizing its visitor team system alongside partner teams.
- Kickoff will feature:
- 8 partner teams
- 2 visitor teams
- 2 Open Qualifier teams
- Visitor teams and partner teams will receive direct entry into Kickoff and the first two Cups.
- The model continues to provide promotion and relegation opportunities unique to the Chinese ecosystem.
- Roster Continuity Supports Long-Term Team Building
- Open and creator-led teams can retain their competitive progress by maintaining at least three of five starting players.
- Teams that meet the roster continuity requirement will keep their points and qualification status throughout the season.
- The system is designed to help emerging organizations build momentum and establish sustainable competitive identities.
- Guaranteed Financial Support for Non-Partner Teams
- For the first time, non-partner teams will receive fixed qualification payouts tied directly to competitive achievement:
- Qualify for Kickoff or a Cup: $100,000 USD
- Qualify for Masters: $200,000 USD
- Qualify for Champions: $400,000 USD
- These payments are in addition to:
- Tournament prize pools
- Travel support for major events
- Other ecosystem incentives
- Additional Incentives for Game Changers Teams
- Non-partner teams that qualify for the Game Changers Championship will receive an additional $100,000 USD incentive payment.
Quote from Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports, Riot Games:
"VCT 2027 is built around a simple belief: the best teams should earn their place every step of the way and every match matters. We wanted to create a system that rewards performance, opens more opportunities for teams around the world, and makes every match feel meaningful. By creating more paths into top-level competition and providing meaningful financial support for teams that qualify, we're building a more open, engaging, and competitive future for VALORANT Esports. One where any team can rise, every event matters, and fans have more reasons to follow the journey from local competition all the way to Champions."
— Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports
The newly announced qualification structure builds on Riot Games' previously announced vision for a tournament-driven VCT beginning in 2027. Teams will progress from regional competition into Cups, Masters, and Champions through a performance-based system that creates more opportunities for emerging organizations while maintaining meaningful stakes throughout the season.
More details regarding slot allocation, regional qualification formats, and partner team selection will be shared ahead of VALORANT Champions.
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