VALORANT Champions 2026 is the final tournament of the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour. Riot Games is bringing 16 teams from the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China to Shanghai to compete for the 2026 VALORANT World Championship.
The tournament runs from September 24, 2026 to October 18, 2026. It features a Groups Stage, Playoffs, a $2.25 million prize pool, and a Grand Final at Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena. Riot Games is hosting VALORANT Champions 2026 as part of the VALORANT Champions Tour season.
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Shanghai Takes Center Stage for Champions 2026
VALORANT Champions 2026 takes place from September 24 to October 18, 2026, in Shanghai, China. The matches will be played across two venues.
Jing’an Sports Center
Jing’an Sports Center will host the Groups Stage and the early rounds of the Playoffs.
Mercedes-Benz Arena
Finals Weekend moves to the Mercedes-Benz Arena, where the final Playoffs matches and the Grand Final will be played. This is the first time VALORANT Champions itself is being held in Shanghai. The city previously hosted VALORANT Champions Tour 2024 – Masters Shanghai.
How the VALORANT Champions Tournament Works
VALORANT Champions 2026 has two main stages: the Groups Stage and the Playoffs.
Groups Stage: September 24–October 4
The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four, with each group containing one team from each of the four VALORANT Champions Tour territories, so no two teams from the same territory are placed in the same group.
The groups use a GSL-style double-elimination format. A team is eliminated from its group after suffering two losses. Every Groups Stage match is a best-of-three (Bo3) series. Teams must win two maps to win the match. The top two teams from each group advance to the Playoffs, leaving eight teams in contention for the championship.
Playoffs: October 7–18
The eight surviving teams enter a double-elimination bracket. As in the Groups Stage, teams can survive one loss. A second loss eliminates them from the tournament. Most Playoff matches are best-of-three. However, the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final are best-of-five (Bo5) matches, making them longer series.
The 16 Teams Competing in Shanghai
Sixteen teams are competing at VALORANT Champions 2026, with four teams representing each VALORANT Champions Tour territory.
- Americas: 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, LOUD, and NRG.
- EMEA: Team Vitality, FUT Esports, Team Liquid, and Karmine Corp.
- Pacific: Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce, Global Esports, and T1.
- China: JD Gaming, Xi Lai Gaming, TYLOO, and EDward Gaming.
The teams are divided into four groups:
Group A
- 100 Thieves
- JD Gaming
- FUT Esports
- T1
Group B
- Global Esports
- Team Vitality
- LOUD
- EDward Gaming
Group C
- TYLOO
- G2 Esports
- Team Liquid
- Paper Rex
Group D
- Karmine Corp
- Nongshim RedForce
- NRG
- Xi Lai Gaming
Each of the four international regions contributes four teams to the tournament.
VALORANT Champions 2026 Match Schedule
Here is the VALORANT Champions 2026 match schedule. The tournament opens with two Group C matches on September 24.
GROUP C:
| MATCH | DATE | TIME |
| Team Liquid vs. Paper Rex | September 24 | 2:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM CEST |
| TYLOO vs. G2 Esports | September 24 | 5:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM CEST |
GROUP D:
| MATCH | DATE | TIME |
| Nongshim RedForce vs. NRG | September 25 | 5:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM CEST |
| Karmine Corp vs. Xi Lai Gaming | September 25 | 5:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM CEST |
GROUP B:
| MATCH | DATE | TIME |
| Global Esports vs. Team Vitality | September 26 | 5:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM CEST |
| LOUD vs. EDward Gaming | September 26 | 5:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM CEST |
GROUP A:
| MATCH | DATE | TIME |
| 100 Thieves vs. T1 | September 27 | 5:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM CEST |
| JD Gaming vs. FUT Esports | September 27 | 5:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM CEST |
The Groups Stage runs through October 4, followed by the Playoffs from October 7 to October 18. Match times may change during the tournament, so check the official VALORANT Esports schedule for the latest updates.
The Champions Prize Pool
VALORANT Champions 2026 features a total prize pool of $2.25 million. The tournament champion will receive $1 million. The remaining prize money will be distributed based on each team’s final placement.
What’s in the VALORANT Champions 2026 Bundle?
Riot Games has also released the VALORANT Champions 2026 bundle, officially called “Frag or Die.” The collection features Champions-themed cosmetics inspired by this year’s event.
The Frag or Die collection includes:
- Phantom weapon skin
- Folding-fan melee weapon inspired by Shanghai
- Gun Buddy
- Player Card(s)
- Spray
- Special finisher animation
The melee weapon features a folding-fan design that ties the bundle to the Shanghai setting.
“If The Sun Burns Out Tonight”: The 2026 Champions Anthem
“If The Sun Burns Out Tonight” is the official anthem for VALORANT Champions 2026. The rock-focused track features Grabbitz, Oli Sykes of Bring Me the Horizon, and Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox.
The anthem is also incorporated into the collection’s weapon presentation and animations. The song plays a role in the bundle’s weapon animations, giving the music a presence beyond the tournament broadcast itself.
Where Can You Watch VALORANT Champions 2026?
All matches will be streamed live on the official VALORANT Twitch and YouTube channels, with vertical streams also available on TikTok. Regional VALORANT Champions Tour channels will also offer coverage in local languages during the tournament.
VALORANT Champions 2026: The Road Ahead
VALORANT Champions 2026 brings the season’s biggest rivalries together. The stage is set for the teams for one final chance to prove themselves. Beyond the competition, this tournament reflects the growth of VALORANT and how its community contributes to that success. As the event unfolds, the performances, surprises, and standout moments will help shape the 2026 season.
Ajmal has a background in Communicative English and works across digital marketing, web development, content creation, and related digital areas. At Oratraex, he focuses on gaming, digital marketing, technology, and emerging digital trends, helping readers understand content that matters in the digital world.
