Challenger teams stand to gain over $700,000 from qualifying to Champions 2026, according to Riot Games

The VCT format is set to be revolutionized in 2026. One of the biggest changes coming our way will be possbility for Challenger teams to make it all the way to Champions for a chance to compete for the biggest trophy in VALORANT esports.

The goal of this 'Path to Champions'? To better support non-VCT-partnered teams and organizations, aiding the sustainability of the scene as a whole. Challenger teams who make it all the way to Champions will have earned much to be proud of, but it's also about a whole lot more than that.

What Challenger Teams Stand to Gain

During VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions, Riot Games held a panel driven by important figures relating to VALORANT esports. This panel served to discuss, among other things, further details regarding the new Path to Champions.

To paint a more accurate picture of what Challenger teams stand to gain next season, Riot's Riley Yurk (VALORANT Esports Strategy) disclosed that teams that qualify to Champions 2026 would earn over $700,000. Yurk described this as "a really big opportunity for those non-partnered teams to climb up the ladder and earn additional funds."

Sustainability is a big part and we want to offer that to the non-partnered teams in our ecosystem as well.

While Champions may be the end goal, Challenger teams across the VCT stand to make $75,000 first if they manage to qualify for their respective region's Stage 2 Playoffs.

Looking Ahead

During that same panel, Leo Faria disclosed that Riot Games is sharing "a lot more than $80 million Dollars to teams [in the VCT] this year." Now, it's about making sure that VALORANT esports is able to thrive even outside the VCT. That's where Path to Champions comes in.

By allowing Challenger teams to earn the chance to compete at the highest level — not just for glory, but also for funds — the incentive for anyone looking to break into the scene continues to grow.

Nobody said the path ahead was meant to be an easy one, though. When it comes to VALORANT Champions, it should be nothing short of a privilege to make it to the tournament, and Leo Faria is well aware of that. That is precisely why, after exploring "every single format on the face of the Earth," Riot ultimately decided Challenger teams would need to prove themselves during Stage 2 Playoffs first before heading to Champs.

“Do we wanna give Challenger teams a direct path to Champions?” And we decided against that because it is supposed to be hard, right? Champions is the pinnacle of the sport. We want the best of the best to be here battling it out for the world title.

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Featured Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games