Key facts
- VCT 2027 will span 15 cities worldwide and feature more than 50 tournaments.
- The season runs from January 14 to October 10, 2027.
- Kickoff events occur from January 14 to February 7, 2027, hosted in São Paulo (Americas), Berlin (EMEA), Bangkok (Pacific), and Hangzhou (China).
- Masters Seoul will be held from February 20 to March 3, 2027, in Seoul, South Korea.
Riot Games announced the VCT 2027 schedule and host cities on 15 October 2026.
The VCT 2027 season will run from January 14 to October 10, 2027, and include more than 50 tournaments worldwide. The competition will span 15 cities across the globe. Kickoff events will take place from January 14 to February 7, 2027, in São Paulo for the Americas, Berlin for EMEA, Bangkok for the Pacific and Hangzhou for China.
Masters Seoul will take place from February 20 to March 3, 2027, in Seoul, South Korea. Masters Valencia will take place from June 5 to June 20, 2027, in Valencia, Spain.
Cup 1 will run from April 29 to May 23, 2027, with host cities Mexico City (Americas), Warsaw (EMEA), Manila (Pacific) and Wuhan (China). Cup 2 will run from August 5 to August 29, 2027, with host cities Rio de Janeiro (Americas), Istanbul (EMEA), Tokyo (Pacific) and Shanghai (China).
VALORANT Champions 2027 and the Game Changers Championship will take place from September 16 to October 10, 2027, in Austin, Texas, United States. The VCT 2027 structure replaces long stretches of league play with a tournament‑first format built around Opens, Kickoff, Cups, Masters and Champions.
Open Qualifiers for VCT 2027 will begin in November 2026, providing the first opportunity for aspiring teams to compete under the revamped system. Regional Open Qualifiers for VCT 2027 will take place in multiple territories. Eligibility rules including age limits and MMR thresholds vary by region, and in regions at least three of five players must be from that region.
Open or creator‑led teams that keep at least three of their five players retain their competitive standing for the entire VCT 2027 season. The timeline graphic displays a cycle of three Opens then an Open Play‑In or Open Playoff. This cycle runs all year, offering multiple ways to reach the Cups.
Partner teams in the Americas, EMEA and Pacific receive a direct invite to their regional Kickoff with no qualifier required. After Kickoff, partner teams must earn their spots in subsequent Cups, Masters and Champions based on competitive results. Chinese partner and visitor organizations receive invitations to both Kickoff and the Cups.
Riot Games has introduced guaranteed qualification payments for non‑partnered teams: US$100,000 for Kickoff or regional Cups, US$200,000 for Masters and US$400,000 for Champions. Riot has committed $1 million in support for the Game Changers Championship, with each competing team receiving $100,000.
Masters Seoul begins 13 days after the Kickoff event ends. Masters Valencia begins 13 days after Cup 1 ends. The gap between Cup 2’s end on August 29 and the start of the Austin event on September 16 is 18 days. Kickoff, Cup 1, Cup 2 and the Austin event each run for 25 days on the calendar.
The two Masters windows are shorter than the regional stages and the Austin event. Seoul hosted a VCT Champions event in 2024 and will host a Masters event in 2027. Registration for VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers is not yet open, but Riot urges teams to prepare now.
Open Qualifiers will be set up in 16 regions, serving as the entry point for players seeking to reach the VCT competition. Each tournament scheduled for 2027 will take place in a unique city, with no repeats.
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