Riot announces major VCT 2027 overhaul featuring VCT cups, open qualifiers for Masters and Champions

Riot Games has announced major changes coming to the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) in 2027. A new tournament-based ecosystem for global events, an updated partnership model, and expanded live events will bring a whole new look to the beloved VALORANT pro scene.

Tournament first ecosystem

Starting in 2027, a new structure is coming to the VCT. This tournament-first model will introduce more high-stakes moments throughout the season with new events. It will also open the door for any team to qualify for VCT global events: Masters and Champions.

This structure is built around three core principles:

• Every match should carry weight
• The path to global events should be open
• Live events should visit more locations

When Riot Games originally designed the VCT, the goal was to build one of the most successful esports in the world. Now, they’re looking to build on that success by making VALORANT esports more exciting, unpredictable, and accessible to teams and players around the globe.

While details are still being finalized, the long-term goal is for every team, in every region, to have a path to every global event.

Partnership in 2027

A new two-year partnership cycle will begin in 2027, with applications opening today. Well-known teams not currently part of the partnership program can reach out to their regional Riot Esports representatives to be considered.

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Commitment to grow the VALORANT community
• Community resonance across fandom and content
• Business sustainability and responsible operations
• Operational excellence and established infrastructure
• Competitive success and performance development

Partnered teams are essential to ensure the success of the VCT and will be rewarded with:

• Partner base payment - Partner teams receive a base payment each year
• Performance bonus - Partner teams that excel at partnership goals are eligible for additional awards
• Team Capsule - In-game skins that let fans support their favorite teams
• Direct seeding - Additional stability and increased exposure through direct placement into later rounds in qualifiers

Open qualification to Global events

The path to Masters and Champions will begin with open qualifiers, available to teams worldwide.

In previous seasons, non-partnered teams had to compete all year for a single Ascension slot. Starting in 2027, there will be multiple qualification opportunities. These paths will vary by region and may include community tournaments, partner events, Premier, and more.

More details on qualification paths will be shared later this year.

Top-performing non-partnered teams will be able to accumulate Championship Points, earn competitive payouts, and in some cases outperform lower-tier partnered teams financially. This shift expands revenue distribution across the ecosystem, allowing more organizations to support players and invest in the scene.

Introducing VCT cups

Open qualifiers will produce new tournaments called Cups. There will be two cups per territory each year, making it eight in total. They will be LAN-based events that determine the top teams in each territory. Each cup will:

• Replace regular season league play
• Conclude with a finals weekend event
• Directly qualify teams to Masters and Champions

Competition at Kickoffs and Cups will be held in a combination of Riot studios and custom venues, with each Cup culminating in a weekend event with fans. In total, the VCT will host over 20 tournaments every year, and visit more than 16 different cities across the world.

More money to the teams

Last year, Riot shared over 86 Million USD from digital goods with the teams in the VCT. In 2027, the goal is that all teams competing at the highest level will have a path to the same financial success.

Each competition will therefore have a cash amount attached to it that teams will earn by qualifying. The amount of cash will depend on the size and stakes of the tournament, with the number roughly doubling from Cups to Masters, and doubling again from Masters to Champs.

On top of this, Riot will have large prize pools, totaling over 6 Million USD per year, as well as fully funded travel for global events. Finally, a part of the funds will go to Game Changers each year (specific details on the mechanics of distribution will be shared later in 2026).

Looking Ahead

With this new structure, all teams will compete in a unified system and single tier competition. The grind through year-long Challenger leagues for a slim chance at Ascension is gone.

This new structure removes the barriers for rising talent and creates a direct path for more teams to get to the top. With this all-tournament format and expanded schedule, the VCT is heading to more cities, creating more opportunities for the fans to experience all that the esport has to offer.

For coming details on the new VCT, stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG.

Featured image source: Riot Games