While the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) delivers blockbuster esports events, VALORANT Seasons and Acts keep everyday players entertained with a steady stream of new content. But how exactly does the current structure work?

This guide covers every VALORANT Season start and end dates, alongside a history of the most significant content updates and a detailed explanation of how the seasonal structure works—all without the need to channel your inner KAY/O.

When Does VALORANT Season 2026 End?

VALORANT Season 2026 was released on January 7, 2026, with update v12.00, which ushered in the first Act of the calendar year. The season is scheduled to run through the full calendar cycle and will end on January 6, 2027.

When Is The Next VALORANT Act?

VALORANT Season 2026: Act 2 is expected to run from March 18 to May 20, 2026. The start date is all but confirmed, since the current Battle Pass ends on March 17 or 18, depending on your region. The end date is our best estimate.

Difference Between VALORANT Seasons & Acts Explained

Before patch v10.00, VALORANT had an Episode structure. There were a total of nine Episodes with three Acts each since the game’s release.

However, on January 7, 2025, Riot Games moved away from the Episode structure and introduced Seasons in VALORANT, which follow a year-long structure and comprise six Acts. Season 2025 proved highly successful, as the developer delivered a concrete schedule with tons of content. 

Simply put, VALORANT Seasons mark the start of a new year, and the six Acts within each Season include significant content updates that can include any of the following:

• A new Battle Pass
• New Agents or maps
• A new weapon
• New gameplay systems
• A new or reworked game mode
• Competitive map rotations/changes

Note: Not every Act will have a new weapon or a new Agent. However, these big pieces of content are released at the start of a new Act. There are generally four to five patches per Act.

All VALORANT Season, Act, And Episode Dates

Since VALORANT’s release on June 2, 2020, Riot Games has released dozens of Acts, first in an episodic nature, before moving to year-long Seasons at the start of 2025.

The table outlines the start and end dates of each Season in VALORANT. We’ve also added details on the Acts within each Season, including start and end dates, and the most significant pieces of content.

Season 2026

Season 2025

Note: The dates marked with asterisks (*) are estimates based on the current eight-week release plan for Acts. Take these dates with a grain of salt until Riot Games reveals the official start and end dates for the upcoming Acts.

VALORANT Episodes/Acts Start & End Dates

Before Season 2025, VALORANT followed an Episode system. There were nine Episodes in total, each split into three Acts.

Here are all the VALORANT Episodes and Acts from launch through 2024, including the major content additions (e.g., Agents, maps, weapons, etc.).

FAQs

When Is The Next VALORANT Act?

The next VALORANT Act is expected to begin on March 18, 2026.

How Long Does A VALORANT Season Last?

A VALORANT Season lasts one full year.

How Long Does A VALORANT Act Last?

Each Act in VALORANT lasts roughly eight weeks, with six total per year.

When Does A VALORANT Rank Reset Occur?

VALORANT rank resets occur at the start of a new Season and again at midseason.

When Does The Current VALORANT Season End?

The current VALORANT Season is scheduled to end on January 6, 2027.

References

1. VALORANT Patch Notes 10.00 (Play VALORANT)