VCT 2027 qualification structure revealed

by Juandi June 19, 2026

VCT Pacific’s 2027 structure introduces six Regional Competitions, expanding qualification opportunities across Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the wider APAC region.

UNITED STATES – Riot Games has revealed additional details for the 2027 VALORANT Champions Tour season, outlining a new competitive structure built around open qualification, regional pathways, and expanded financial support for teams.

The updated system marks one of the biggest structural changes to VCT since the introduction of partnership leagues in 2023. Beginning in 2027, non-partner teams will have more direct opportunities to qualify for international events, while partner teams will also be required to continue proving themselves throughout the season.

The 2027 VCT season will begin with Kickoff, which will feature eight partner teams and four teams from Open Qualifiers for each region held in Q4 of 2026 after Champions Shanghai.

Also read: VCT is tearing down the walls around league play. Here's what's changing, and why it matters

For a refresher, partner teams are organizations selected by Riot Games to compete at the highest level of VCT. These organizations receive financial support from Riot and are able to generate revenue through exclusive in-game cosmetics, such as VCT Team Capsules.

Under the first partnership cycle, each international league initially featured ten partner teams, with additional teams entering through Ascension on guest slots. However, with the next partnership cycle approaching, teams will be reevaluated, and organizations from around the world will have to apply again for a place in the ecosystem.

Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports, commented, "VCT 2027 is built around a simple belief: the best teams should earn their place every step of the way and every match matters. We wanted to create a system that rewards performance, opens more opportunities for teams around the world, and makes every match feel meaningful. By creating more paths into top-level competition and providing meaningful financial support for teams that qualify, we're building a more open, engaging, and competitive future for VALORANT Esports. One where any team can rise, every event matters, and fans have more reasons to follow the journey from local competition all the way to Champions."

VCT Pacific 2027

For VCT Pacific, the 2027 season will introduce six Regional Competitions, which will function as Open Qualifiers and feed a total of twelve teams into the league’s Cup events. These Cups will take place throughout the season alongside Kickoff, which remains the opening tournament of the year.

South Korea and Japan will each receive their own dedicated Regional Competitions. For Southeast Asia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam will also have their own dedicated Regional Competitions, with Riot describing them as “some of VALORANT’s fastest growing competitive regions.”

The remaining Southeast Asian regions will compete through the Wild Card Regional Competition, which will include the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and the rest of Southeast Asia. VCT Pacific will include a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), where the top teams from South Asia and Oceania can fight for qualification into Kickoff and Cups.

Kickoff

Similar to the 2026 Kickoff format, the 2027 edition will use a triple-elimination bracket. The top three teams from Kickoff will qualify for the first Masters event of the year.

Similar to the previous Kickoff in 2026, the 2027 Kickoff events will feature a triple-elimination bracket, with the top three teams qualifying for the first Masters event of the year.

While partner teams will receive direct entry into Kickoff, that status will no longer guarantee them a place in the following two Cups throughout the season. After Kickoff, teams will need to qualify for future Cups based on their performance.

Partner teams that fail to place highly at Cups or Masters will drop into Open Playoffs, where they must compete for a chance to return to top-tier competition. Partner teams without previous results (new ones), as well as teams eliminated early in the Open pathway, will have to restart from Open Qualifiers.

This creates a more fluid system of promotion and relegation across the season, where teams can rise or fall depending on their results.

Financial incentives for teams

Alongside the new qualification structure, Riot Games also announced fixed financial payouts for teams that qualify for major VCT events. While partner teams will continue to receive stipends for competing and remaining active in the ecosystem, non-partner teams will now also receive direct financial support tied to their competitive achievements.

Teams will receive:

  • US$100,000 for qualifying for Kickoff or a Cup
  • US$200,000 for qualifying for Masters
  • US$400,000 for qualifying for Champions
  • An additional US$100,000 for non-partner teams that qualify for the Game Changers Championship

These payments will be provided on top of prize pools, travel support, and other incentives.

VCT CN format largely remains the same

While the international leagues will see major changes to their qualification pathways, VCT CN will largely continue with its existing structure.

VCT CN will retain its visitor (Ascension) team system alongside partner teams. For Kickoff, the league will feature eight partner teams, two visitor teams, and two teams from Open Qualifiers.

Unlike the other international leagues, both partner teams and visitor teams in China will receive direct entry into Kickoff and the two Cups.

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VCT Pacific will include a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), where the top teams from South Asia and Oceania can fight for qualification into Kickoff and Cups.