Riot Games has unveiled major updates for the 2027 season of VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), introducing a more open, performance-driven regional competitive system alongside guaranteed financial rewards for non-partner teams and qualification paths to Cups and Global Events. The new details aim to broaden access to top-tier competition while ensuring that teams earn their position consistently through results.
“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,” says Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports.
“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,” Faria adds.
The triple elimination Kickoff tournaments will take place across the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific featuring 12 teams that include 8 partner squads and 4 from Open Qualifiers. The top three teams from each Kickoff will qualify directly to Masters. While partner teams receive direct entry into Kickoff, they are required to continue qualifying through performance to guarantee a spot in future Cups.
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.
There will be 14 regional competitions to feed the global ecosystem that will serve as the foundation for qualification into Cups. VCT Americas include North America, LATAM North, LATAM South, and Brazil. VCT EMEA includes Europe, Türkiye, and MENA. VCT Pacific presents expanded opportunities with Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam as dedicated regional competitions. This expansion creates new pathways for teams and players across some of VALORANT’s fastest-growing competitive regions. Also included in the VCT Pacific competitions are South Korea and Japan, with the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and the rest of Southeast Asia as wildcards.
VCT China will continue utilizing its visitor team system alongside partner teams. Visitor teams and partner teams will receive direct entry into Kickoff and the first two Cups. This model continues to provide promotion and relegation opportunities unique to the Chinese ecosystem.
For the first time, non-partner teams will receive fixed qualification payouts tied directly to competitive achievement. Teams that qualify for Kickoff or a Cup will receive USD100,000, while those that qualify for Champions will receive USD400,000. These payments are on top of tournament prize pools, travel support for major events, and other ecosystem incentives.
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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