Riot Games has revealed the full structure and competitive roadmap for the VCT EMEA 2026 Kickoff, confirming major format changes and a packed month of action to open the new Valorant season.

The tournament will feature 12 teams battling across a four-week schedule that introduces one of the most significant format changes in VCT EMEA history: a triple elimination bracket. This new system provides teams with more flexibility to adapt while delivering fans a deeper series of matchups.

Triple Elimination Bracket

Under the new format, teams will have three chances to advance before being dropped from the tournament. One loss sends them to the Middle Bracket, a second to the Lower Bracket, and a third eliminates them entirely. The goal is to provide more competitive opportunities and allow new rosters time to find their footing.

Instead of a single grand final, each bracket — Upper, Middle, and Lower — will crown its own winner. All three bracket champions will earn qualification spots for Valorant Masters Santiago, with the finals played as a best-of-five series. All other matches throughout the event will be best-of-three.

Four top teams from last season — Fnatic, Team Liquid, GIANTX, and Team Heretics — will begin their campaigns in Upper Bracket Round 2.

Four Weeks of Matches

The Kickoff will unfold across four weeks, each with a clear competitive focus:

• Week 1: Upper Bracket rounds 1 and 2, setting the pace for the tournament.
• Week 2: Middle Bracket matchups and Upper Bracket semi-finals.
• Week 3: A Lower Bracket-heavy slate filled with elimination pressure.
• Week 4: The final stretch, where the remaining rounds lead into three high-stakes bracket finals across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The structure ensures that even early losses don’t spell disaster, with multiple paths to qualification remaining open deep into the event.

Championship Points On The Line

Beyond Masters qualification, Kickoff will award crucial Championship Points that could define the region’s standings later in the year. Points are allocated as follows:

• 1st place: 4 points
• 2nd place: 3 points
• 3rd place: 2 points
• 4th place: 1 point

At the end of the season, the top two teams in the Championship Points table will secure spots at Valorant Champions Shanghai.