For the first time in history, VALORANT Champions is heading to China.
CHINA – Riot Games has announced that VALORANT Champions 2026 will be held in Shanghai, China. This marks Shanghai’s second time hosting an international VALORANT event, following VCT Masters Shanghai in 2024.
The sixth edition of VALORANT’s World Championship will arrive in Shanghai after previous stops in Berlin (2021), Istanbul (2022), Los Angeles (2023), Seoul (2024), and Paris (2025).
There are no concrete details about VALORANT Champions 2026 just yet, understandably so, with the 2025 edition in Paris still a month away and yet to even get underway.
ALSO READ: Chongqing to host VCT CN Stage 2 Playoffs
The full announcement is as follows:
“Today, we’re thrilled to announce that VALORANT Champions 2026 is heading to Shanghai.
After the unforgettable energy of Masters Shanghai 2024, with a packed Mercedes-Benz Arena, record-setting viewership, and a full city takeover, we knew we had to come back. That event proved what we believed: Shanghai wasn’t just ready to show up, it was ready to host the biggest event on the VCT calendar.
Champions 2026 in Shanghai marks the next milestone in our journey to bring VALORANT’s biggest event to the heart of each major region.
- 2024: Seoul, Korea – We kicked off our global rotation in the home of VCT Pacific, bringing Champions to the birthplace of esports.
- 2025: Paris, France – This year Champions Paris will conclude at the Accor Arena , bringing the event to VCT EMEA territory and honoring a region rich with competitive history and a vibrant fanbase.
- 2026: Shanghai, China – We return to a VCT CN stronghold, building on the momentum of Masters Shanghai and embracing one of our fastest growing communities.
- 2027: Americas – Our tour wraps in the heart of VCT Americas. This final stop will not only celebrate the region’s unforgettable rivalries and rising stars, but also showcase the first Champions of the next era of our sport.
VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai will be more than just the final stop on a global tour. It will be the continuation of a story that started last year, when VCT CN launched and claimed a world championship in the same season. Fans packed arenas, city streets lit up with VALORANT activations, and Shanghai transformed into a living, breathing celebration of the game.
Now, we’re getting ready to bring the world back. Champions 2026 will deliver the highest level of VALORANT competition while once again spotlighting the passion of VCT CN’s home crowd. These are the fans who rallied behind hometown heroes like Edward Gaming, Wolves and other rising teams.
This is the biggest event on the VCT calendar. This is where history is born. This is Champions.“
For more insights on the Asian VALORANT scene and upcoming content like this, be sure to like and follow VALO2ASIA on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
Cover photo courtesy of VALORANT Esports
