VCT 2027 is a major evolution of competitive VALORANT, building on the foundation laid in 2026. In 2027, VCT unifies the scene into a single tier to deliver high-stakes competition, faster progression to global events, more regional events, and greater competitive opportunity.
On April 8, Riot Games announced the VCT 2027 competition path, and it starts with regional open qualifiers. There are multiple qualification opportunities throughout the year, allowing teams to advance into regional VALORANT tournaments.
Traditional regional leagues are replaced with VCT Cups—LAN tournaments that determine top teams in each region, featuring open qualification and live finals in new cities. From there, the best performers qualify for Masters and Champions.
“VCT 2027 is about reimagining how teams compete and how fans experience VALORANT esports. By shifting to a tournament-driven system with open access to our biggest events, we’re creating a more dynamic, high-stakes ecosystem where every match matters and every team has a shot at the global stage,” said Leo Faria, global head of VALORANT esports.
In the new VCT, non-partner teams can expect expanded support. Alongside access to prize pools, Riot promises qualification cash incentives at each stage of competition, financial support for travel and participation in global events, and more consistent payout cycles throughout the season.
While a lot of support is put towards aspiring teams and making the competition more open, partner teams remain a core part of VCT. Starting in 2027, Riot shifts towards a two-year partnership model with revised selection criteria.
Based on their business sustainability, competitive performance, community resonance, and commitment to grow the VALORANT community, teams can continue to benefit from direct seeding, annual base payments, performance bonuses, and digital goods revenue (e.g., Team Capsules).
Additionally, VCT 2027 takes the competition to even more locations. In total, VCT will host over 20 tournaments each year and visit more than 16 different cities around the world, including regional Cups, international league hubs, roadshow finals, and global events.
Riot previously teased major changes to VCT in 2027, and 2026 has made the first steps towards the new VALORANT esports. This includes more accessible global events through Path to Champions and more destination events with Stage 2 playoffs.
More details regarding regional formats, qualification paths, and event locations will be shared in the lead-up to VALORANT Champions 2026.
