Major changes announced for VALORANT 2026 season in APAC

In a recent press conference held in Bangkok, Riot Games unveiled significant changes to the VCT Path to Champions format for 2026, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Jake Sin, Head of VALORANT Esports APAC, alongside Pablo Lee, Esports Product Manager APAC, detailed how the Challengers ecosystem will evolve, aiming to open opportunities for local talent and strengthen regional competition.

A major change is the removal of Ascension as the qualifying route for Challengers teams. Starting in 2026, the top four Challengers teams across APAC will gain direct slots into the VCT Pacific Stage 2 playoffs, providing a more straightforward path to elite competition. Additionally, Challengers teams advancing to Champions will now share revenue from digital goods sales, a benefit previously exclusive to International League teams.

The four playoff slots will be allocated with one spot each to Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The fourth slot will come through a LCQ featuring top teams from Oceania, South Asia, and Southeast Asia runner-ups. Pablo Lee noted the difficulty in this decision:

“With four slots, we had to make a tough decision… Korea and Japan are key markets for us in APAC, so we wanted to give them a direct slot. We also wanted to put the LCQ so that teams who are not part of this are able to climb up and have an opportunity… I wish we could have more slots and fit everybody, but unfortunately, we only have four, and this was the best outcome that we could have achieved.”

Revamping Challengers Southeast Asia Structure

The Challengers Southeast Asia league will transition from a league format to a tournament-based model to better represent local markets and foster domestic talent.

Five local qualifiers in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and a combined group of other Southeast Asian nations will feed into a 12-team regional Challengers tournament each split. This layered approach is expected to increase accessibility and allow storylines and fandom to flourish locally.

Lifting Streaming Exclusivity

Streaming exclusivity, which previously limited exposure, will be lifted for Southeast Asia, enabling broadcasts across multiple platforms in local languages to increase accessibility and fan engagement.

Previously, viewership was restricted to specific platforms, which limited exposure and engagement. This decision aims to boost visibility for teams and players, foster greater regional fan support, and improve overall growth prospects for the SEA scene.

Pablo Lee highlighted this change as addressing "an accessibility issue... fans can watch from their favorite platform without being directed to a specific one."

Academy Teams and Competitive Balance

Academy teams will remain part of Challengers but lose relegation protection and will no longer be eligible for Stage 2 playoff qualification. This move aims to create a more equitable league and competitive resilience across all teams. As Pablo explained,

"We want to make sure that our leagues next year are as equitable as possible... if an Academy team finishes at the bottom, they will need to fight to earn that slot back."

Efforts are also underway to support teams with visa logistics proactively, ensuring geographical or bureaucratic hurdles won’t block players. Riot further plans to explore expanding LAN events beyond current hubs like Bangkok to cities across APAC.

Riot's 2026 VALORANT changes in APAC represent a decisive push toward inclusivity, competitive balance, and strong local representation. They aim to cultivate talent from grassroots to Champions level, making the ecosystem more vibrant and accessible than ever before.

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