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When do the VCT Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China 2026 Seasons Start?
With VCT 2026 set to commence in a few days, all eyes are on the 48 tier-1 teams taking the world stage this year. They follow an exciting 2025 season that concluded in October with North America’s NRG taking the crown at Champions Paris. The season also saw Paper Rex lift its first international trophy after two previous upsets.
The VCT 2026 International Leagues also welcomes six new contenders through Ascension 2025. This includes four newly promoted teams, ENVY, PCIFIC Esports, ULF Esports, and SLT Seongnam (later acquired by VARREL), along with two returning teams: Nongshim Redforce and Dragon Ranger Gaming.
Though with a few exciting changes, the 2026 season mirrors last year's structure, beginning with regional Kickoff tournaments. These will be followed by Masters Santiago, Stage 1 of the International Leagues, Masters London, International Leagues Stage 2, and the season finale, VALORANT Champions Shanghai.
Here is everything to know about the start dates for all major VALORANT esports events in the 2026 season.
VCT Kickoff 2026 Start Dates
The 2026 VCT season will commence with each region hosting its own LAN event, known as VCT Kickoff. Following a triple-elimination format for the first time, the inaugural event will provide teams with their first chance of the year to qualify for a Masters event, as the top three contenders from each Kickoff tournament will advance to Masters Santiago.
The four teams from each region that qualified for Champions 2025 will receive a bye into round 2 of the Upper Bracket, shortening their road to qualification by one match.
- VCT Americas Kickoff start date: Thursday, January 15
- VCT EMEA Kickoff start date: Tuesday, January 20
- VCT Pacific Kickoff start date: Thursday, January 22
- VCT China Kickoff start date: Thursday, January 22
VCT Masters Santiago Start Date
The top teams from the Kickoffs will travel to Santiago, Chile, for the first Masters of the year, marking the first global event in the LATAM region. This edition of the tournament will witness an increase in the number of participating teams from 8 to 12, adding more action-packed matchups to the international stage. With the change in participation, the tournament's format is also set to change. However, we will have to wait for more information from Riot for any clarity on the matter.
The Pacific region clinched the last three Masters titles, creating a clear mission for rivals. Teams from EMEA and the Americas are now determined to reclaim the throne, while China looks to etch its name on the coveted Masters trophy for the first time. So far in VCT, the EMEA region has won four Masters titles, while the Pacific and the Americas have earned three.
- VCT Masters Santiago start date: Saturday, February 28
VCT International League Stage 1 Start Dates
All VCT International Leagues in 2026 are set to start on the same day, with the initial matchups spanning five weeks. The twelve teams in each league will be split into two groups as they compete in a single round-robin format. The top four teams from each group will then proceed to the Stage 1 Playoffs, and ultimately, three teams from each region will advance to the second Masters tournament of the year.
While the Masters events are compact and fast-paced, the International Leagues offer teams more breathing space as they compete for a crucial Masters spot.
- All VCT International Leagues Stage 1 start date: Wednesday, April 1
VCT Masters London Start Dates
VCT returns to Europe for the second Masters of the year, as London is set to host its first-ever major VALORANT event. Similar to Masters Santiago, the tournament will feature 12 global contenders in a high-octane environment. As the season's halfway mark, Masters London will offer clarity on which teams are genuine favorites to reach Champions Shanghai.
The tournament's format hasn't been confirmed yet. However, based on previous iterations of Masters 2, we can expect the event to begin with a Swiss Stage round featuring the second and third seeds from each league, from which four contenders will then join the winners of the International Leagues in a double-elimination playoff.
- VCT Masters London start date: Saturday, June 6
VCT International League Stage 2 Start Dates
Stage 2 of the Valorant International Leagues could be deemed the highlight of the season. Replacing the road to Champions through the Ascension tournaments, Riot Games has opened the gate for tier-2 teams to lock horns with the top VALORANT organizations in the world in 2026.
After a series of qualifiers, the top Challenger teams from each region will compete in their respective Stage 2 Playoffs and ultimately have a chance to play in Champions. Integrating Challengers teams directly into the later stages and adding more live events could foster more competition and potentially see new teams break through to the highest level.
Similar to Stage 1, all International Leagues will kick off on the same day in Stage 2. Additionally, the last weekend of each Stage 2 International League Playoffs will be held in a different location, adding more variety to the competition.
- All VCT International Leagues Stage 2 start date: Tuesday, June 30
VCT Champions Shanghai Start Date
As usual, the VCT season will conclude with the annual Champions event, scheduled to be held in Shanghai. Having previously hosted Masters Shanghai in 2024, this will be the city’s second international VCT tournament. The 2026 VALORANT Champions will feature 16 teams (four per region), with two qualifying from the Stage 2 Playoffs and two via Championship Points.
The exhilarating five-round grand final at Champions 2025, where Fnatic nearly staged a historic comeback against NRG, set a new benchmark for the esport. After a full season of competition in 2026, the ultimate question will be answered in Shanghai, China, where the next VALORANT World Champion will be crowned.
- VCT Champions Shanghai 2026 start date: Thursday, September 17
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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games
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