Valorant Esports News

The Esports Nations Cup 2026 could be the most competitive international VALORANT event of the year. Set for November 8–15 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the tournament will bring together 32 national teams vying for glory on the global stage. With the national rankings cut-off not arriving until June 21, 2026, rosters are still taking shape, but plenty of names have already started surfacing across regions. Here's everything we know about confirmed and rumored lineups heading into the tournament.

Shotcall is making a return to the VCT, and this time, it’s for the regional leagues. Riot Games has officially confirmed that Shotcall is coming back for the VCT Stage 1 Playoffs, spanning all three major regions—Pacific, EMEA, and Americas. Whether you're a seasoned predictor or a first-timer, here's your complete guide to jumping in.

Riot Games is bringing back open applications for its Partner Programs, and this time, the doors are opening wider than ever. After years away from public enrollment, creators across League of Legends, VALORANT, and Teamfight Tactics will finally get their shot starting in August 2026.

The Club Partner Program (CPP) is one of the Esports Foundation (EF) flagship initiatives centered around providing investment and incentives to a select group of esports organizations that are members of the club. It consists of its own ecosystem of support for organizations as well as providing said organizations with a separate track for winning prize money – the Club Championship. But what do we actually know about how it works? Join us as we listen to industry staples speak on their experience.

VALORANT Night Market will return in Season 2026 Act 3 on May 7 and run until May 28.

The beloved Kuronami collection returns in patch 12.08, and we now have an early look at what to expect. Headlined by the Naru-Kami blade, the second set also includes skins for four other weapons.

Skirmish Ascension arrives with Patch 12.08, blending select abilities, stage-based weapons, and live leaderboards. This mode will also offer 1v1 and 2v2 queues, bringing in a brand-new experience.

South Korea has reportedly pulled out of the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 following a dispute between Korean e-Sports Association (KeSPA) and the Esports Foundation (EF). The former claimed that the national selection of players to represent South Korea had been ‘interfered with’ by the event organizer. KeSPA, as the governing esports body for South Korea, holds tremendous sway over the nation’s esports athletes and activities.

It was announced back in February that the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Finals would be heading to beautiful Barcelona from August 28th to the 30th. As promised, further information has now been released regarding the vital tickets for the venue as well as what to expect on the week of.

Shopify Rebellion's in-game leader Melanie "meL" Capone has announced she is stepping back from professional VALORANT for the rest of 2026, effective immediately. In a heartfelt statement shared publicly, the veteran IGL cited health reasons, more specifically, a recent diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), as the driving force behind her decision.

ENVY has officially terminated its contract with Alex "canezerra" Banyasz after the player received a 12-month hardware ban from Riot Games

Sentinels just made one of the most exciting moves in the VCT Game Changers North America scene. The iconic North American organization announced a brand-new partnership with Blue Otter GC, giving birth to a new team identity: SEN OTTERS

VALORANT's latest premium skin bundle, the Holo Meridian, is set to hit the in-game store on April 16, 2026, and early previews suggest it could be one of the cleanest cosmetic drops Riot Games has delivered this year.

The Esports Foundation has officially confirmed the complete 16-game lineup for the Esports Nations Cup 2026, the inaugural global nation-based esports competition set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2–29, 2026. Over 100,000 players are expected to compete across hundreds of qualification events spanning 100 nations and territories throughout the year.

Introduced in 2023, the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) as we know it is now in the final year of its first iteration. As fans await the remainder of this season, Riot looks ahead already to 2027 and the anticipated changes. A series of massive changes are coming for VCT starting next year and there’s a lot to look forward to.

Disney+ has announced an expanded partnership with the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) to livestream a wider slate of Korean and pan-Asian esports competitions globally throughout 2026, building on an initial deal signed in September 2025.

VCT Americas 2026 Stage 1 begins April 10 as 12 top teams compete in a two-group format for a chance to qualify for Masters London. With powerhouses like NRG, LOUD, Sentinels, and G2 Esports in the mix, the tournament promises intense matchups, a structured group stage, and high-stakes playoffs.

Today, the Esports Foundation (EF) announced the selected 40 esports clubs for the 2026 Club Partner Program. The program, a $20M dollar initiative, provides funding and support for all the selected clubs. Now in its 3rd year, over $100M has been reportedly invested to date.

VALORANT Patch 12.06 may not deliver the biggest of updates to the game, but it's certainly worth taking a look at all the same for a few concrete reasons. From small updates to Waylay (which should result in a slight nerf) and Viper, to new voicelines for Yoru and a long list of bug fixes, the new VALORANT update will continue to drive the game towards its most balanced and polished state.

Riot Games has officially released a procedural update regarding the sexual assault allegations made against former Apeks VALORANT player and Game Changers champion Ava "florescent" Eugene, concluding that no violations of its Global Code of Conduct were found.