VALORANT Champions 2026: Schedule, Format, Teams & How To Watch
The 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) season reaches its climax in Shanghai with VALORANT Champions, the sixth edition of the game’s world championship. The tournament returns to the iconic Mercedes-Benz Arena, which hosted a memorable Masters in 2024.
With a refreshed Path to Champions and a high-stakes bracket-only format across both stages, Shanghai will host the most definitive event on the VALORANT esports calendar. Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with the action.
Editor’s Note: This page is a stub. Information regarding VALORANT Champions 2026 is limited, and we will continue updating it as more details become available.
- 1. VALORANT Champions Shanghai Dates & Location
- VALORANT Champions Shanghai Schedule
- 2. VALORANT Champions Shanghai Format
- Prize Pool Distribution & Final Standings
- 3. Teams Competing At VALORANT Champions Shanghai
- Stage 2 Playoffs
- Championship Points
- 4. How To Watch VALORANT Champions Shanghai
- Tickets
- 5. FAQs
- 6. References
VALORANT Champions Shanghai Dates & Location
VALORANT Champions Shanghai is scheduled from September 24 to October 18, 2026, and will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China.
VALORANT Champions Shanghai Schedule
This table outlines the full VALORANT Champions Shanghai schedule, detailing each stage alongside its match dates and start times.
| Stage | Match Dates | Match Start Times |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | TBD | TBD |
| Playoffs | TBD | TBD |
| Grand Finals | TBD | TBD |
Note: You can follow the VALORANT Esports account on X for official fixtures and updates.
VALORANT Champions Shanghai Format
VALORANT Champions Shanghai is split into two phases: Group Stage and Playoffs, with all 16 qualified teams seeded using a structured pool system to balance the regions.
The Group Stage comprises four GSL-style groups, each operating under a double-elimination bracket format and featuring four teams. All matches are played as best-of-three series, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Playoffs.
Pool System Explained
Teams are divided into four pools based on their qualification path, with one team from each pool seeded into every group. Regional matchups are avoided at this stage, meaning teams from the same region cannot be drawn into the same group.
| Pool 1 (Stage 2) | Pool 2 (Stage 2) | Pool 3 (Points) | Pool 4 (Points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMEA #1 | EMEA #2 | EMEA #3 | EMEA #4 |
| Americas #1 | Americas #2 | Americas #3 | Americas #4 |
| Pacific #1 | Pacific #2 | Pacific #3 | Pacific #4 |
| China #1 | China #2 | China #3 | China #4 |
The Playoffs feature eight teams competing in a double-elimination bracket to determine the VALORANT world champion. All matches are played as best-of-three series, except for the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final, which are played as best-of-five series.
This format ensures that teams are thoroughly tested across multiple series while preserving the high-stakes nature of the final rounds.
Prize Pool Distribution & Final Standings
VALORANT Champions Shanghai features a massive $2.25 million prize pool, with the winner earning $1 million and the Champions title.
| Place | Prize Money | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000,000 | TBD |
| 2nd | $400,000 | TBD |
| 3rd | $250,000 | TBD |
| 4th | $130,000 | TBD |
| 5th–6th | $85,000 (each) | TBD |
| TBD | ||
| 7th–8th | $50,000 (each) | TBD |
| TBD | ||
| 9th–12th | $30,000 (each) | TBD |
| TBD | ||
| TBD | ||
| 13th–16th | $20,000 (each) | TBD |
| TBD | ||
| TBD | ||
| TBD | ||
| Total | $2,250,000 |
Teams Competing At VALORANT Champions Shanghai
Sixteen teams will compete at VALORANT Champions Shanghai. Teams will qualify based on their performance throughout the year, with four representatives selected from each region: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China.
Each region’s top two teams from the Stage 2 Regional Playoffs earn direct qualification, while the remaining eight slots are awarded to the highest-ranked teams by Championship Points. These points are accumulated via Kickoff and Masters events, as well as both regional stages.
Stage 2 Playoffs
- TBD (Americas)
- TBD (Americas)
- TBD (EMEA)
- TBD (EMEA)
- TBD (Pacific)
- TBD (Pacific)
- TBD (China)
- TBD (China)
Championship Points
- TBD (Americas)
- TBD (Americas)
- TBD (EMEA)
- TBD (EMEA)
- TBD (Pacific)
- TBD (Pacific)
- TBD (China)
- TBD (China)
Note: The final list of teams will be published after the Stage 2 Playoffs are concluded.
How To Watch VALORANT Champions Shanghai
VALORANT Champions Shanghai matches will be broadcast on the official Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok channels of VALORANT Esports.
Tickets
Riot Games has not yet announced ticket details for VALORANT Champions Shanghai.
Historically, tickets are released 2–3 months before the tournament begins—usually around June. You can refer to our VALORANT news page for the latest updates.
FAQs
When and where will the VALORANT Champions 2026 take place?
VALORANT Champions Shanghai will run from September 24 to October 18, 2026. It will be hosted at the iconic Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China.
How can I buy tickets for VALORANT Champions 2026?
Ticket details for VALORANT Champions Shanghai have not been announced yet.
What is the VALORANT Champions 2026 prize pool?
VALORANT Champions Shanghai features a whopping $2.25 million total prize pool.
Where can I watch the VALORANT Champions 2026 live streams online?
You can catch all the action on VALORANT Champions Shanghai on the official Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok channels of the tournament organizers.
Who won the VALORANT Champions 2025?
NRG Esports won VALORANT Champions Paris 0 after defeating FNATIC in a thrilling 3–2 series, taking home $1 million.
References
- VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) (X)
- VALORANT (Twitch)
- VALORANT Champions Tour (YouTube)
- Valorant Esports (@valorantesports) is LIVE (TikTok)
