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Riot Games Confirms Locations for VCT 2027 Masters and Champions
In April, Riot Games announced the bold move to shift away from the existing closed VCT system and into an open circuit concept. As we near the conclusion of Champions 2026, we now have confirmation of the locations for both Masters and Champions 2027.
In addition, Riot has also confirmed over 50 tournaments to look forward to in the coming year. Professional VALORANT will have a very different face in the coming months.
Everything Is a Tournament
Firstly, a quick recap for those in the back. The conclusion of the 2026 VCT season brings with it a close to the first chapter of the partnership cycle. Riot Games has confirmed that the 2026 off-season will bring fresh applications for the next cycle of 2 years (2027-28).
Starting from 2027, the path to both Masters and Champions will begin with Open Qualifiers, making the biggest VALORANT tournaments accessible to any team with the mettle to rise.
In replacement of the regular season, a new tournament, 'Cups', has been created. Set to run partially through studios and various cities, VCT is effectively taking the domestic season on the road.
Check here for our full report on all the changes to expect.
Everything Is Earned
Unlike previous years, next year’s Kickoff will be preceded by an Open Qualifier. Partnership teams will be granted the advantage of advanced seeding in the Open Qualifiers, allowing them to skip the opening bout.
Open Qualifiers will lead into Kickoff and then Masters. The same will hold true for the second Masters and Champions, with an Open Qualifier and Cup preceding it.
However, post-Kickoff, Partnership teams will have to earn advanced positions through strong performances at Kickoff and Masters.
Locations and Dates Confirmed for Masters and Champions 2027
Following the conclusion of Kickoff 2027, the first Masters is set to take place in Seoul, Korea. This will be followed by a second Masters in València, Spain.
Finally, Champions 2027 will take place in Austin, Texas, USA. With this confirmation, we have a grand tour ahead of us, taking us from Asia to Europe, concluding in America.
We also have confirmation for the cities and start dates for each of the regional Kickoff and Cup finals:
| Kickoff | Cup 1 | Cup 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Americas | São Paulo | Mexico City | Rio De Janeiro |
| EMEA | Berlin | Warsaw | Istanbul |
| Pacific | Bangkok | Manila | Tokyo |
| China | Hangzhou | Wuhan | Shanghai |
Here are the given start dates and durations for Kickoff, Cups and each of the Masters and Champions:
- Kickoff: January 14 - February 7
- Masters Seoul: February 20 - March 3
- Cup 1: April 20 - March 3
- Masters València: June 5 - 20
- Cup 2: August 5 - 29
- Champions Austin: September 16 - October 10
Other Developments to Expect for VCT 2027
Open Qualification for Kickoff 2027 is set to begin this November following the conclusion of Champions 2026 as well as Game Changers Championship.
What's particularly noteworthy is that there will be a multitude of Open Qualifiers, many paths to lead to Cups and therefore the biggest VCT stages of Masters and Champions.
More info on the qualifiers to come.
Lastly, Riot Games has confirmed that the era of the VCT team Classic is over, with the Ghost taking over starting from 2027.
Check out Strafe Esports for all the latest VALORANT news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
Featured Image Credit: Riot Games
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