Riot Games announces new VALORANT Champions Tour 2027 structure

Riot Games has unveiled a fundamental restructuring of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) for the 2027 season. Moving away from a traditional league format, the new model will center on a tournament-based system featuring more than 50 events, including Opens, Kickoffs, Cups, Masters, and Champions.

The updated structure aims to increase global accessibility by providing more qualification pathways. Regional Opens will allow teams to compete for local titles and advance to Cups and international tournaments. While partner teams remain a core component, advancement following the Kickoff phase will be determined primarily by sporting performance. This shift allows amateur and open teams the opportunity to compete against established organizations.

Key changes include expanded financial support for qualifying open teams, including guaranteed payments, and a more frequent tournament schedule designed to reduce long periods of inactivity. Additionally, the Game Changers season finale will be integrated into the Champions event. The 2027 season is expected to be a global tour spanning numerous cities worldwide.