Riot Games Reveals Complete VCT 2027 Overhaul, Including Open Qualifiers

Riot Games has begun discussing what the new-look VALORANT Champions Tour will look like in 2027. It'll include an all-tournament model, higher stakes, more live events, and open access to global events. 

Not only that, but Riot confirmed that every path to both Masters and Champions will now begin with open qualifiers. 

In the past, teams have had problems with VCT, including the German squad MOUZ, which ended its VALORANT play altogether because of it. 

According to an announcement on X by Leo Faria, the Global Head of VALORANT Esports and the Commissioner of the VCT, we've learned a lot so far.

All-Tournament Model and Open Qualifiers

In 2027, it'll officially be an all-tournament model, shifting away from the regular season format. The open qualifiers will also feed into Cups, and those Cups will go into Masters and Champions. 

The ALL NEW VCT:
- Everything is a tournament
- New Cups
- Open qualifiers for every single event
- Traveling roadshows multiple times a year
- Total of 20+ tournaments visiting 16+ cities
- Competition back in home regions
- Substantial revenue accessible to all teams
- Revamped… pic.twitter.com/6biUqhKbyH

— Leo Faria (@lhfaria) April 8, 2026

Faria also said there will be "traveling roadshows multiple times a year," and that there are 20-plus tournaments across 16 cities. 

Not only that, but he mentioned that there will be "substantial revenue accessible to all teams" and a "revamped partnership system." 

This new system will give teams around the world a chance. Now, non-partner teams won't need to wait an entire year for a single promotion opportunity through Ascension. "Starting next year, teams will have multiple opportunities, multiple times a year, to make it all the way to the biggest stages in the VCT," Riot Games announced. 

The Overall Structure

The basic structure of the new system will consist of regional open qualifiers that feed into international Cups, which then advance to Masters and Champions. 

In Faria's post, there was a graphic that showed four quadrants, including the following: 

• North America, LATAM, Brazil, feeding into Americas Kickoff and Cups.
• SEA, Japan, Korea, South Asia feeding into Pacific Kickoff + Cups.
• EU, MENA, Türkiye feeding into EMEA Kickoff + Cups.
• CN Open Qualifiers feeding into CN Kickoff + Cups. 

From there, the Kickoff+ Cups move on to Masters and Champions. 

Prize Pools, Incentives, Future Vision

There was also a graphic for VCT 2027 Rewards, which includes the following: 

• Digital Goods: Champions Collection, Season Capsule, Teams Capsules. 
• All Teams Can Earn: Prize Pool, Game Changers Championship Incentive, Kickoff + Cups, Masters, and Champions. 
• Partner Benefits: Baseline payment, performance bonuses, team capsules share. 

The Kickoff + Cups, Masters, and Champions also had $, $$, and $$$, respectively, on their graphics, indicating that each of these stages will award more money as teams move up. 

The tournaments will also provide more than $6 million in total prize pools per year, along with fully funded travel for global events. 

As for Cups, "funds will be made available to teams in a timely manner, so they can be equipped to arrange the logistics necessary to attend the tournament, such as visas and travel," Riot Games said. 

Riot Games said there's still more news to come, but ultimately, the new VCT is designed for the following:

• Higher stakes from the first match
• Faster progression to global stages
• More regional events
• Greater competitive opportunity

"For those who have been on this journey with us over the past several seasons, thank you, and please keep sharing your thoughts and ideas as we continue building this sport together. Our goal is to create a sport worthy of your passion, and our greatest strength continues to be the ideas you as a community share with us," Riot Games added in their post.