VCT EMEA 2026 Stage 1: Schedule, Tickets, Format, and More

VCT EMEA 2026 Stage 1 will see the region's 12 partnered teams compete for valuable Championship Points and three slots for VALORANT Masters London. Following a disappointing showing at Masters Santiago, Europe's top teams now have an opportunity to regain their footing in VALORANT esports and establish themselves as genuine contenders ahead of the next international event. From April 1 to May 17, the 12 VCT EMEA teams will battle through a two-stage league format to qualify for Masters London.

Fans can catch the action live via stream in multiple languages or attend the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany, in person to watch Europe's top talent compete for glory. Below is everything you need to know about VCT EMEA 2026 Stage 1, including ticketing details, schedule, livestream information, and more.

Teams and Rosters

Before diving into the rosters, it's worth noting a small change to the VCT EMEA team list. ULF Esports, which joined the league in 2026 through Ascension, has been replaced by Turkish organization Eternal Fire. Riot cited "publicly reported operational challenges affecting the team and its ability to operate in line with league standards" as the reason for the change. As a result, four players and the head coach of ULF's roster have been acquired by Eternal Fire.

A few other player and personnel changes have also taken place in VCT EMEA ahead of Stage 1. Below, we have all teams and their players, organized into their respective groups for the Group Stage.

Group Alpha 

Group Omega

Format

Group Stage

• April 1st to May 1st

The 12 participating teams will be split into two groups of six: Alpha and Omega. Each group will compete in a round-robin format, with all matches played as best-of-three. The top four teams from each group will then advance to the playoffs.

Group winners will receive a bye to the Upper Semifinals, while the second- and third-place teams advance to Upper Bracket Round 1. The fourth-place teams, meanwhile, will enter the lower bracket directly, starting in Lower Round 1.

Playoffs

• May 7th to May 17th

The playoffs will follow a double-elimination bracket format, with the eight competing teams facing off in best-of-three matches for the most part. Only the Lower Final and Grand Final will be played as best-of-five. Ultimately, the top three teams from the tournament will secure qualification for Masters London.

VCT EMEA Stage 1 Schedule

Week 1 

Wednesday, April 1st

• FNATIC vs Eternal Fire: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Team Liquid vs Karmine Corp: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Thursday, April 2nd 

• Team Vitality vs GIANTX: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Gentle Mates vs FUT Esports: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Friday, April 3rd

• Team Heretics vs NAVI: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• BBL Esports vs PCIFIC Esports: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Week 2

Wednesday, April 8th

• PCIFIC Esports vs GIANTX: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• BBL Esports vs Eternal Fire: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Thursday, April 9th

• FNATIC vs Team Vitality: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Team Liquid vs Team Heretics: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Friday, April 10th

• FUT Esports vs NAVI: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Gentle Mates vs Karmine Corp: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Week 3

Wednesday, April 15th

• BBL Esports vs GIANTX: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Gentle Mates vs NAVI: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Thursday, April 16th

• Eternal Fire vs Team Vitality: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Karmine Corp vs Team Heretics: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Friday, April 17th

• FUT Esports vs Team Liquid: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• PCIFIC Esports vs FNATIC: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Week 4

Wednesday, April 22nd

• Eternal Fire vs PCIFIC Esports: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Gentle Mates vs Team Heretics: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Thursday, April 23rd

• GIANTX vs FNATIC: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Karmine Corp vs FUT Esports: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Friday, April 24th

• NAVI vs Team Liquid: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• BBL Esports vs Team Vitality: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Week 5 

Wednesday, April 29th

• Team Heretics vs FUT Esports: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Team Vitality vs PCIFIC Esports: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Thursday, April 30th

• NAVI vs Karmine Corp: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• BBL Esports vs FNATIC: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Friday, May 1st

• GIANTX vs Eternal Fire: 8 am PDT/ 5 pm CEST

• Gentle Mates vs Team Liquid: 11 am PDT/ 8 am CEST

Playoff Bracket

We don’t have the playoff schedule just yet, but here’s how the double-elimination bracket will look:

VCT EMEA Stage 1 Tickets

Ticket sales for VCT EMEA 2026 Stage 1 are now live, and you can grab yours here. Tickets are sold as daily passes, not individual match tickets, meaning you can watch two matches with a single pass. Most matchdays are priced at €15, while the Lower Final costs €20 and the Grand Final costs €30.

Please note that some tickets have already sold out, so you'll want to act quickly if you're hoping to catch some of the most anticipated matchups in person.

Where to Watch VCT EMEA Stage 1

VCT EMEA League Stage 1 will be broadcast live in English on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok. Additional language streams include French, Spanish, and Turkish:

• English: Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok

• French: Twitch and YouTube 

• Spanish: Twitch

• Turkish: Twitch and YouTube

You can also follow the action on the Strafe Esports tournament page as the VALORANT Pacific Stage 1 unfolds.

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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Read More:

Eternal Fire Steps Into VCT EMEA as ULF Esports Loses Its Spot

VCT Pacific 2026 Stage 1: Schedule, Tickets, Where to Watch, and More

VALORANT Masters London Tickets: Prices, Sales Dates, and How to Buy