The 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour kicks off with a revolutionary new format. Regional tournaments will use triple elimination brackets for the first time in VCT history.
How Triple Elimination Works
Twelve teams compete in each regional Kickoff tournament, but the top four finishers from Champions 2025 receive first-round byes as a reward for their success. Teams need three losses before elimination instead of the traditional two.
The top three teams from each region qualify for Masters Santiago in Chile, the first international event of 2026. This expansion from the usual two qualifying spots gives more teams chances at international competition early in the season.
Championship Points are distributed based on placement. The winner gets four points, second place earns three, third receives two, and fourth gets one point. These points become crucial for qualifying to Champions 2026 in Shanghai, China.
Regional Start Dates
Americas launches first on January 15, setting the pace for the entire 2026 season. EMEA follows five days later on January 20 with their regional competition.
Pacific and China both start January 22, running their Kickoff tournaments simultaneously. All matches stream on official VCT Twitch and YouTube channels for each respective region.
The entire Kickoff stage runs from January 15 through February 15, giving each region about one month to determine their Masters Santiago qualifiers.
Defending Champions Return
G2 Esports, Team Vitality, DRX, and EDward Gaming won their regional Kickoff tournaments in 2025. All four teams will try repeating their success with the new triple elimination format.
The first-round byes reward teams that performed well at Champions 2025, but the triple elimination structure means lower-seeded teams get more opportunities to upset favorites. One bad match no longer ends championship dreams immediately.
Building Toward Shanghai
Kickoff marks just the beginning of the long road to Champions 2026 in Shanghai. Teams that miss Masters Santiago qualification can still earn points through later stages, but starting strong creates momentum and confidence.
The triple elimination format ensures more competitive matches throughout the tournament. Fans get to watch top teams battle multiple times instead of quick eliminations ending storylines early.
VCT 2026 promises intense competition right from the opening tournament as regions battle for Masters Santiago spots and crucial Championship Points.
Sarah Smith is a passionate gamer girl who loves playing Valorant in her free time, climbing the ranks to Ascendant 3 with a peak of Immortal 1. When she's not locking down sites as a Cypher main, she’s fragging out with Reyna, Jett, or supporting with Skye. Her favorite maps include Haven, Ascent, and Fracture, where she loves using her go-to weapons like the Vandal, Marshal, Stinger, and Ghost. A big fan of stylish plays, Sarah rocks her favorite skins from the VCT 2021 bundle, Prime, and Nocturnum collections.