VALORANT Champions 2026: Everything You Need to Know
VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Champions Shanghai is here, and it's a big one: the tournament heads to Shanghai for the first time, closes out the final season of the franchised VCT era, and brings with it a new anthem, a new bundle, and sixteen of the best rosters in all of VALORANT esports.
The tournament starts on Thursday, September 24, and you won't want to miss a thing! Here's the complete rundown of dates, format, teams, cosmetics, and the music behind VALORANT Champions Shanghai.
When and where is Champions 2026?
VALORANT Champions 2026 runs from September 24 to October 18 in Shanghai, China; the first time the tournament has been hosted in the country, following Shanghai's earlier turn as host of VCT 2024 - Masters Shanghai. The event is split across two venues:
- Jing'an Sports Center (capacity 5,600) hosts the Group Stage and the early rounds of Playoffs.
- Mercedes-Benz Arena (capacity 18,000) takes over for the Top 4 and Grand Final.
A total prize pool of $2,250,000 is on the line, with $1,000,000 going to the eventual champion. This is also the last Champions under the current franchised system, as VCT is set to shift back to an open-qualifier structure starting in 2027, making this Shanghai run something of a changing of the guard.
Format explained
Like previous years, VALORANT Champions 2026 is split into a Group Stage followed by Playoffs. Here's a closer look at the format and schedule:
Group Stage (September 24 – October 4)
The 16 qualified teams are split into four groups of four, with one team from each of the four regions (Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China) per group to avoid regional match-ups. Each group runs a GSL-style double-elimination bracket, all matches are Bo3, and the top two teams from each group advance to the Playoffs.
Playoffs (October 7 – 18)
The eight surviving teams move into a single eight-team double-elimination bracket. All matches are Bo3 except for the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final, which are both bumped up to Bo5.
Teams and Groups
Every region sends four representatives: the two Stage 2 finalists from each International League, plus the two highest-ranked teams from that region on Championship Points who didn't make their Stage 2 final. Here's what the VALORANT Champions Shanghai groups look like:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Thieves | Global Esports | TYLOO | Karmine Corp |
| T1 | Team Vitality | G2 Esports | Xi Lai Gaming |
| JD Gaming | LOUD | Team Liquid | Nongshim RedForce |
| FUT Esports | EDward Gaming | Paper Rex | NRG |
NRG arrive in Shanghai as the defending champions after their 2025 title run, while EDward Gaming - 2024's winners - return as the host nation's flagship squad.
Opening Matchups
To kick off the action at VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026, the opening matchups for each group are set as follows (ordered chronologically):
Group C:
- Team Liquid vs Paper Rex [Thursday, September 24 - 2 am PT / 11 am CET]
- TYLOO vs G2 Esports [Thursday, September 24 - 5 am PT / 2 pm CET]
Group D:
- Nongshim RedForce vs NRG [Friday, September 25 - 5 am PT / 2 pm CET]
- Karmine Corp vs Xi Lai Gaming [Friday, September 25 - 5 am PT / 2 pm CET]
Group B:
- Global Esports vs Team Vitality [Saturday, September 26 - 5 am PT / 2 pm CET]
- LOUD vs EDward Gaming [Saturday, September 26 - 5 am PT / 2 pm CET]
Group A:
- 100 Thieves vs T1 [Sunday, September 27- 5 am PT / 2 pm CET]
- JD Gaming vs FUT Esports [Sunday, September 27- 5 am PT / 2 pm CET]
Make sure to check out our dedicated article to find out more about some of the most anticipated opening matchups of VALORANT Champions Shanghai.
On-Air Talent
Some of the best on-air talent in all of VALORANT esports will help bring you the action live from China. The VALORANT Champions 2026 on-air talent will feature all of the following:
| Hosts | Analysts | Commentators |
|---|---|---|
 ChubbyNinja | aEvilcat | Achilios |
 Frankie | Ender | Bren |
| Goldenboy |  kaquka | Hypoc |
 Mikafabs | Pansy | |
 Valinaaa | Paperthin | |
| Sideshow | ||
 Uber | ||
| Wyatt |
The Champions 2026 anthem: "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight"
Every Champions event gets its own theme song, and 2026's entry is called "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight." It's a genuine rock supergroup moment for the VCT: the track is performed by Grabbitz alongside Oli Sykes of Bring Me the Horizon and Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox, pairing Grabbitz's long-running history soundtracking VALORANT esports with two of modern metal and post-hardcore's most recognizable voices.
The anthem dropped just ahead of the Champions bundle reveal and plays a central role in the skins that follow, right down to the weapon inspect animation.
VALORANT Champions 2026 bundle: "Frag or Die"
The VALORANT Champions 2026 skin collection, officially named Frag or Die, is this year's flagship cosmetic release, and it leans into Shanghai's host-city identity more than any Champions bundle before it.
What's in the VALORANT Champions 2026 bundle?
- Phantom - the primary weapon skin
- Melee: a folding fan - rather than the usual knife or blade, a nod to the Shanghai setting
- Gun Buddy, Player Card(s), and a Spray
- A finisher animation featuring the Champions trophy flanked by Sage and Viper alongside their respective animal counterparts
Drops, Shotcall, and Pick'Ems Rewards
Several rewards await at VALORANT Champions 2026, whether that be exclusive drops for watching games live on the official broadcast, rewards for choosing to play Shotcall and make predictions, or testing your skills in the Pick'Ems challenge.
Here's a look at all drops and rewards you stand to gain at VALORANT Champions Shanghai.
| Drops | Shotcall Rewards | Pick'Ems Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Title: Prepared (Watch for a minimum of 30 minutes during Groups and Playoffs) | Title: The Catch (Play Shotcall on Twitch (desktop only) and earn 50 points over the course of Champions Shanghai) | Title: Calculated (Participate in Pick'Ems) |
| Spray: Stamp of Approval (Watch for a minimum of 30 minutes during the Grand Final) | Gun Buddy: Crab Buddy (Play Shotcall on Twitch (desktop only) and earn 300 points over the course of Champions Shanghai) | Gun Buddy: Stone of Heaven (Finish in the top 50%) |
| Player Card: Trophy (Play Shotcall on Twitch (desktop only) and finish in the top 3% of any map during Champions Shanghai) | Pick’Ems Master: Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy (Finish in the top 20%) | |
| Title: 100% (Perfect Pick'Ems) |
Remember to lock in your Pick'Ems within the allocated time windows to be eligible for rewards. These are:
Groups Stage Pick’Ems:
- Picks open September 10 at 7:00 AM PT on the web and 8:00 AM PT in the VALORANT client
- Picks lock September 24 at approximately 2:10 AM PT, 10 minutes after the first game of Champions Shanghai begins
Playoffs Pick’Ems:
- Picks open October 4 once the Draw Show is complete and Playoffs matchups are confirmed
- Picks lock October 7 at approximately 2:10 AM PT, 10 minutes after the first game of Playoffs begins
Where to watch VALORANT Champions Shanghai
All matches will be broadcast live on the official VALORANT Twitch and YouTube channels, with vertical streams also available on TikTok. Regional VCT channels will carry local-language broadcasts throughout the Group Stage and Playoffs.
With a stacked 16-team field, a full changing of the guard looming for 2027, and a genuinely unexpected rock anthem from Oli Sykes and Courtney LaPlante backing it all, Champions 2026 has plenty of reasons to tune in from the opening match to the Grand Final at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
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
A lover of video games through and through, his passion for games began at an early age when he fell in love The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. After honing his skills with years of practice, Martin competed at a semi-professional level in World of Warcraft, both in PvE and PvP. He now enjoys all things esports, from VALORANT and Counter-Strike to League of Legends and StarCraft II. A writer at heart, Martin majored in English Literature before finding that the best way to combine his two passions was to start writing about video games. Also happens to be a bit of a sucker for stats and traditional sports. Martin currently works as an editor and writer for Strafe Esports, while also writing for TheSpike when he has the chance.
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