The 2027 season starts qualifying in November 2026
Riot’s October 15 announcement sets out a tournament-based VALORANT Champions Tour for 2027. The important calendar distinction: Kickoff qualification begins in November 2026. Those qualifiers lead into next year’s season.
The tour will span 15 cities and more than 50 tournaments. Regional Opens provide entry points, Cups replace regular-season league play, and teams can advance toward Masters and Champions. Game Changers will finish alongside Champions.
Source: Riot Games · VCT 2027: The Global Tour
Three global events to put on the calendar
These are the windows in Riot’s published tour graphic. Individual match times and ticket availability require their own announcements.
| 2027 event | Host city | Announced dates |
|---|---|---|
| Masters | Seoul | February 20–March 3, 2027 |
| Masters | València | June 5–20, 2027 |
| Champions and Game Changers Championship | Austin | September 16–October 10, 2027 |
Source: Riot Games · VCT 2027: The Global Tour
Partner status does not guarantee a place in every Cup
For Americas, EMEA and Pacific, Kickoff starts with eight partner teams and four open qualifiers. The leading three teams from each territory qualify for Masters. After Kickoff, partner teams must continue earning advancement; lower finishes can send teams back through Open Playoffs.
China uses a different entry model: eight partners, two visitor teams and two open qualifiers at Kickoff, with partners and visitors directly entering the first two Cups. Do not apply the Americas split to China.
Riot also sets fixed qualification payments for non-partner teams: $100,000 for Kickoff or a Cup, $200,000 for Masters and $400,000 for Champions. These are team qualification payments, separate from applicable prize winnings.
Source: Riot Games · Inside the new VCT 2027
North America: the first registration window starts October 19
For these North American qualifiers, players must be at least 17 and have reached a peak rank of Ascendant or higher within the previous six months. The organizer’s registration page contains the full eligibility rules.
Both qualifiers use single-elimination, best-of-three matches, with at least four teams advancing from each. The next phase combines qualifiers and invited teams in a 16-team Swiss stage on November 20–22, followed by an eight-team double-elimination bracket on December 1–6.
The winner earns North America’s guaranteed Kickoff berth; the runner-up gets another opportunity in the Americas LCQ on December 17–18. Riot says broadcasts begin at the Playoffs stage, so do not assume every open-qualifier match will be streamed.
| NA qualifier | Registration window (Pacific Time) | Competition dates (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | October 19, noon–October 30, 11:59 p.m. | November 5–8 |
| Qualifier 2 | October 26, noon–November 8, 11:59 p.m. | November 12–15 |
Source: Riot Games · North America Kickoff qualifiers
Check your region before entering
The global qualifier notice asks teams to prepare a roster, valid travel documents and compliant branding, then check regional age, rank and eligibility rules. It lists Ascendant+ and Vanguard Check compliance; in most regions, three of five players must be from that region.
Roster continuity also matters: keeping at least three of five players preserves competitive progress. Use Riot’s regional directory for the actual application route. A North American deadline is not a worldwide deadline, and a rank requirement alone does not establish eligibility.
Source: Riot Games · VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers
Sources & scope
This article summarizes the official material linked below. It is not a hands-on review. Screenshots are credited to their original publishers; they are not evidence that we tested these steps. Game details can change after publication.
- Riot Games · VCT 2027: The Global Tour (15 Oct 2026)
- Riot Games · Inside the new VCT 2027 (18 Jun 2026)
- Riot Games · VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers (8 Sep 2026)
- Riot Games · North America Kickoff qualifiers (15 Oct 2026)
Sources checked: 19 Oct 2026. Read how we use sources and AI assistance.
