VALORANT Champions 2026 preview: schedule, format, groups, and extra

VALORANT Champions 2026 marks the end result of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), drawing the world’s finest groups to the brilliant lights of Shanghai, China.

From Sep. 24 to Oct. 18, groups from throughout the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China will battle for the title of world champion and the lion’s share of a reported $2.25 million prize pool. Much more thrilling, Riot’s overhauled qualification system means accomplice groups may not be the one ones combating for the trophy.

Editor’s Be aware: This web page shall be up to date as Riot broadcasts extra particulars about VALORANT Champions 2026.

VALORANT Champions 2026 will happen in Shanghai, China, from Sep. 24 to Oct. 18. Riot has not but revealed the particular venue.

Shanghai is not any stranger to high-profile VALORANT tournaments. The town hosted VCT Masters in 2024, culminating on the Mercedes-Benz Enviornment, and can as soon as once more take heart stage when Champions arrives as a part of the broader V26 Tour (V26 无畏巡回) in 2026.

What’s much more fascinating, although, is that issues have nearly come full circle. VCT China joined the Worldwide League in 2024, proper earlier than EDward Gaming received Champs that very same yr. Now, EDG has already assured a spot on the first-ever VALORANT Champions held on residence soil.

In accordance with the Riot League Handbook, VALORANT Champions 2026 will initially separate the taking part groups into 4 GSL-style teams of 4, with all matches performed as best-of-three collection.

The highest two groups from every group will advance to the double-elimination playoffs, whereas the underside two groups shall be eradicated. Playoff matches will even be performed as best-of-three till the tail finish of the event, the place the decrease closing and grand closing will change to best-of-five matchups to determine who lifts the trophy.

Importantly, the ultimate group draw has not but been finalized on the time of writing, however groups shall be seeded in keeping with their qualification technique. Riot will separate regional Stage 2 finishers from these certified via Championship Factors and forestall groups from the identical area from being drawn collectively.

You may watch VALORANT Champions 2026 on the official YouTube and Twitch channels, alongside co-streamers and regional-language broadcasts.

Riot has not but launched the published schedule for Champions Shanghai, although particulars must be introduced in due time. Along with the published, Riot can also be anticipated to roll out Choose’Ems, viewership rewards, and different Champions-themed content material nearer to and in the course of the occasion.

VALORANT Champions 2026 will characteristic 16 groups. Among the many qualifying groups are the winners and runners-up of every area’s Stage 2 playoffs, plus the 2 highest-ranking eligible groups on the Championship Factors ladder.

At present, Paper Rex, EDward Gaming, Xi Lai Gaming, and JD Gaming have locked in spots at Champions Shanghai. PRX, EDG, and XLG certified via Championship Factors, whereas JDG secured China’s first Stage 2 qualification spot.

Essentially the most hanging change heading into VALORANT Champions 2026 is Riot’s new Path to Champions system.

As an alternative of holding VCT and Challengers utterly separate, prime Challenger groups have been allowed to enter their respective Stage 2 competitions and combat established Worldwide League organizations for a spot in Shanghai.

4 Challenger representatives per area feed immediately into the Stage 2 pathway within the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific, whereas China operates a barely totally different home construction. Groups that survive the Play-In section can attain the primary Stage 2 playoffs, the place nothing stands of their means of ending within the prime two and qualifying immediately for Champions.

This implies a staff can theoretically rise from Premier to Challengers and all the best way to Champions, making a direct path to VALORANT’s crowning occasion. This implies there’s a real chance that Shanghai contains a non-partner group alongside the VCT’s conventional giants.

With many of the discipline nonetheless undecided, it’s nonetheless too early to level out a definitive favourite. Nonetheless, Riot’s newest International Energy Rankings (GPR) paints an fascinating image of the groups at present main the VCT 2026 season.

Leviatán sits 1st with a 19–8 file (70.4% win price) and 1,573 energy rating, adopted by Paper Rex on 1,519 pts and defending world champion NRG on 1,470 pts. Staff Vitality, 100 Thieves, and T1 full the present prime six. In fact, these rankings imply little if a staff fails to qualify.

For now, although, solely two of the potential contenders can plan their flights to Shanghai with certainty.

If any confirmed staff deserves to be an early favourite, it’s Paper Rex.

PRX has been probably the most harmful VALORANT groups of 2026, boasting a robust 25–9 season file (73.5% win price) and putting 2nd at each Masters Santiago and Masters London.

Sadly, silverware has repeatedly slipped via their fingers. Nongshim RedForce swept Paper Rex 3–0 in Santiago earlier than Leviatán edged the Pacific powerhouse 3–2 in an extremely shut Masters London Grand Ultimate.

Nonetheless, two worldwide runner-up finishes have given PRX a huge Championship Factors haul and eliminated any qualification strain from Stage 2. The larger query is whether or not the staff can lastly flip one other deep worldwide run right into a world title.

EDward Gaming enters from a really totally different place.

The Chinese language large could not at present sit alongside Paper Rex and Leviatán on the very prime of Riot’s International Energy Rankings. Nonetheless, Shanghai gives one thing no different confirmed staff can replicate: the chance to combat for a world championship in entrance of its residence crowd.

EDG has additionally already confirmed its ceiling. The group grew to become VALORANT Champions 2024 winner, delivering China’s first world championship in the course of the area’s inaugural season within the VCT ecosystem. EDG additionally reached the ultimate 4 at Masters London, however finally fell 3–0 to Leviatán within the decrease closing.

With its Champions ticket already secured via Championship Factors, the strain now shifts from qualifying to discovering the shape required to make one other deep worldwide run.