Riot Games Unveils VCT 2027 Global Tour: More Tournaments, More Opportunities, More Cities
TL;DR: Riot Games has revealed the VCT 2027 Global Tour, bringing a tournament-first competitive ecosystem to more cities around the world. With more than 50 tournaments, expanded open qualification pathways, guaranteed financial rewards for qualifying teams, and a new destination for Game Changers, 2027 will deliver more opportunities to compete and more live VALORANT esports closer to fans.
LOS ANGELES – What you need to know:
- The Biggest VCT Tour Yet: The VALORANT Champions Tour is hitting the road in 2027, bringing competitions to 15 cities worldwide. The expanded global footprint will feature regional Opens, Cups, Masters, and Champions, bringing more live competition and fan experiences to communities around the world.
- The tour will visit 15+ cities worldwide, including Seoul, Valencia, Austin, Berlin, Bangkok, Mexico City, Kraków, Manila, Istanbul, Tokyo, São Paulo, Warsaw, Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Shanghai.
- More regional tournaments and live finals will give fans opportunities to experience VCT competition closer to home.
- The Global Tour represents the next step in Riot Games' commitment to expanding the international reach of VALORANT esports.
- More Than 50 Tournaments and More Ways to Compete: Starting in 2027, the VCT will transition to a tournament-first ecosystem built around Opens, Kickoff, Cups, Masters, and Champions.
- More than 50 tournaments will take place throughout the season, creating additional opportunities for aspiring teams to compete.
- Regional Opens will introduce competitions where local teams can earn regional titles and advance toward higher levels of the VCT.
- Open teams will have opportunities to face established partner organizations and qualify for global events.
- Traditional league play will be replaced by tournament competition, with performance determining advancement and creating higher stakes throughout the season.
- 2027 Starts in 2026: Open Qualifiers for the 2027 VCT will begin in November 2026, offering aspiring teams their first opportunity to earn a place in next year's competition.
- Teams will compete through regional qualification pathways for spots at Kickoff.
- Additional Opens throughout the season will create new routes into Cups and opportunities to advance toward Masters and Champions.
- Multiple qualification opportunities will allow teams to regroup and make additional runs throughout the year.
- More Than $1 Million in Potential Qualification Rewards: Riot Games is introducing guaranteed qualification payments for non-partner teams that earn their place in VCT events, providing meaningful financial support alongside competitive opportunities.
- $100,000 USD for qualifying for Kickoff or a Cup.
- $200,000 USD for qualifying for Masters.
- $400,000 USD for qualifying for Champions.
- An open team achieving a sufficiently successful season could earn more than $1.1 million USDin qualification payments alone, before prize pool earnings.
These payments are designed to reward competitive success and provide additional financial resources for emerging organizations as they advance through the ecosystem.
- Game Changers Heads to Champions: In 2027, the Game Changers competitive season will conclude at Champions, bringing its finale to the biggest VCT audience of the year.
- The move will connect the Game Changers finale with VALORANT esports' flagship global event.
- The change is designed to give Game Changers competitors greater visibility and recognition on the sport's biggest stage.
- New In-Game Esports Content: The VCT's in-game offerings will continue to evolve in 2027, with the Ghost replacing the Classic as the featured weapon for Team Capsules. Fans will have new ways to represent their favorite professional teams in-game.
2027 is about creating more opportunities for teams to compete and giving more fans the chance to experience the VCT in person. By bringing more tournaments to more cities, we're making the VCT more accessible to fans around the world and creating new moments for communities to rally behind. With meaningful financial support for competing teams and more high-stakes matches throughout the season,we're building a year where new rivalries emerge, local heroes rise, and every tournament has the potential to change the course of the season.
The 2027 season represents the next phase of Riot Games' evolution of the VALORANT Champions Tour. First announced in April 2026, the tournament-first model is designed to create a more opencompetitive ecosystem where aspiring teams have a direct path to the highest levels of professional play.
The expanded Global Tour will take VCT competition beyond its established host locations, bringing regional competitions and international events to more destinations. The aim is to create more opportunities for fans to attend live tournaments while building stronger connections between the VCT and local VALORANT communities.
The structure will introduce regional Opens as a new competitive stage, giving emerging teamsopportunities to become local champions before progressing into Cups and global tournaments. Partner teams will remain an important part of the ecosystem, but advancement beyond Kickoff will be determinedby competitive performance rather than partnership status.
Riot Games is also expanding financial support for non-partner organizations. Guaranteed qualification payments will provide funding at key milestones throughout the season, rewarding teams as they earn their way into major competitions. Combined with tournament prize pools, these payments are intended to create more sustainable opportunities for emerging talent and organizations.
The road to the 2027 season begins in November 2026 with the first Open Qualifiers. Additional details on registration, regional competition formats, event schedules, and qualification pathways will be available through official VALORANT Esports channels.
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Cover photo courtesy of Riot Games