Everything you need to know about VCT EMEA 2026 Kickoff

Competitive VALORANT is almost back as VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Kickoff is scheduled to begin on January 20, running until February 15, 2026. With new rosters, a fresh triple elimination format, and 12 teams vying for three Masters Santiago spots, this event marks an explosive start to the new VCT season.

Tickets go live on December 11 at 18:00 CET via emeatickets.valorantesports.com, with prices ranging from €10–€20.

New Season, New Teams

The 2026 edition adds fresh blood to the EMEA circuit. PCIFIC Esports and ULF Esports, promoted through Ascension, join the ten partnered squads. Gentle Mates return as a partner team this year after KOI was removed from the VCT Partnership Program.

The New Triple Elimination Bracket

For the first time in the VCT, Kickoff adopts a triple elimination format, giving every team essentially three lives.

• Upper Bracket: Win to stay on top.
• Middle Bracket: Teams that lose once drop here for another shot.
• Lower Bracket: Lose again, and every match becomes do-or-die.

The four EMEA teams who made to VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions – Fnatic, Team Liquid, GIANTX and Team Heretics – will receive direct byes to Round 2 of the Upper Bracket.

Instead of a single Grand Final, the event will feature three separate finals – one each for the Upper, Middle, and Lower Brackets. Each final winner will advance to Masters Santiago, keeping the stakes sky-high until the very end.

All matches will be Bo3, except the bracket finals, which upgrade to Bo5.

Match Schedule and Weekly Breakdown

Here’s a look at how the action unfolds across four weeks of play:

• Week 1 (Jan 20–24): Upper Bracket Rounds 1 & 2. Opening matches decide who advances to face the seeded teams in Round 2.
• Week 2 (Jan 27–31): Middle Bracket clashes and Upper Semifinals take center stage as teams fight to stay alive.
• Week 3 (Feb 3–7): Lower Bracket survival week, filled with last-chance runs and high-pressure matches.
• Week 4 (Feb 10–15): The grand finale week features all three finals: Upper, Middle, and Lower. Matches start at 6 PM CET on Thursday and Sunday and 2 PM CET on Friday and Saturday.

Opening Round Draw

The 2026 Kickoff begins with exciting matches right out of the gate:

• Natus Vincere vs Karmine Corp – Winner faces Team Heretics
• FUT Esports vs Gentle Mates – Winner faces GIANTX
• PCIFIC Esports vs BBL Esports – Winner faces Fnatic
• ULF Esports vs Team Vitality – Winner faces Team Liquid

Championship Points

Kickoff isn’t just about Masters qualification, it’s also the first step toward VALORANT Champions Shanghai. Championship Points will be distributed as follows:

• 1st = 4 points
• 2nd = 3 points
• 3rd = 2 points
• 4th = 1 point

The top two teams by season’s end will punch their ticket to Champions 2026.

Prepare for four weeks of nonstop action, redemption runs, and upsets as the VCT EMEA 2026 Kickoff sets the stage for another thrilling season of VALORANT esports.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games