The Valorant Champions Pacific 2026 Kickoff Finals start this weekend with Nongshim RedForce taking on Rex Regum Qeon in the first match.
Nongshim RedForce and Rex Regum Qeon kick things off in the opening match.
Nongshim RedForce (NS) is a South Korean esports team backed by the food company Nongshim, best known for Shin Ramyun noodles. The team started in League of Legends and has since branched out into other games.
Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ), or “King of Kings,” is an Indonesian esports team competing in Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Valorant, and Honor of Kings.
The 2026 season brings more global events, new high-stakes formats, expanded Masters competition, and an open path to Champions.
VCT Pacific features 12 teams from Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan, and South Asia. They will compete across three stages to decide which teams represent the Pacific region at global events.
VCT Pacific Teams:
– Detonation FocusMe
– DRX
– Full Sense
– Gen G
– Global Esports
– Nongshim RedForce
– Paper Rex
– Rex Regum Qeon
– T1
– Team Secret
– VARREL
– ZETA Division
Global Events Across Three Continents
In 2026, VCT global events will take place on three continents. Masters Santiago marks the first VCT global event in Latin America and Riot’s return to South America since LOCK//IN. Masters London is the UK’s debut as an international host and brings VCT back to Europe. Champions Shanghai will host the final, where the next VALORANT World Champion will be crowned.
Triple-Elimination Kickoff Form: The 2026 season introduces a triple-elimination format at Kickoff. Twelve teams compete, with the top four teams from Champions 2025 in each league receiving a first-round bye. The top three teams from each league qualify for the expanded Masters Santiago, which will feature 12 teams.ams.
Stage Competition and Playoffs
After Masters Santiago, Stage 1 divides the 12 teams into two groups of six. Each group plays a single round-robin, with matches best-of-three. The stage lasts five weeks, and each team plays five matches. Teams finishing in the bottom two of their group are eliminated and do not advance to the playoffs or Masters London.
Stage 2 is the final opportunity for teams to qualify for Champions Shanghai. Each league will hold its Stage 2 Playoffs as a live event in new locations. The host cities will be announced in early 2026.
Path to Champions Revolution
The most significant change for 2026 is the removal of the traditional Ascension system. For the first time, Challenger teams can reach Champions directly by qualifying to Stage 2 Playoffs. Ascension is no longer part of the system; instead, Challenger teams will play for Stage 2 spots and face partnered teams to try to secure their place at Champions.
Challenger teams that reach Stage 2 Playoffs receive a $75,000 stipend to support travel, visas, and attendance. This aims to make participation more accessible for all qualified teams.
Academy Team Changes
Relegation protection for Academy teams will be removed in 2026. Academy teams finishing at the bottom of their regional Challengers must compete to retain their spot. This change is intended to increase competitive meritocracy and create a more equitable Challengers ecosystem.
VCT 2026 introduces expanded formats, more international locations, and new opportunities for Challenger teams. It marks the most ambitious season for competitive VALORANT to date.
For more information, visit the Valorant Champions Tour 2026 page.