Everything you need to know about the 2025 VCT Ascension EMEA

Big news for those aiming to reach the VCT EMEA Tier 1! For the first time, two teams from VCT Ascension will be promoted to the big stage. This means double the opportunity. Two squads will now have a shot at making it all the way to the VALORANT Champions 2026 tournament.

This year, the tournament is leveling up. EMEA’s brightest prospects and rising stars will take the stage at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin for a full LAN event. Alongside this, a brand-new broadcast style for the Group Stage will bring fans closer than ever, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the next generation of VCT talent.

The Ascension format is getting a major upgrade this year. Firstly, the event will feature eight teams and a streamlined path leading to two massive Ascension Matches that will determine who earns promotion to VCT EMEA 2026.

Meanwhile, the teams qualifying from the VCT Challengers EMEA ecosystem will all fight for their chance to rise to the big stage. These are the teams competing for promotion:

The teams will be split into two groups of four, competing in a GSL-style format with best-of-three (Bo3) matches. In this format, each team faces opponents with the same record, creating fair and exciting matchups. Specifically, this is a double-elimination setup: win twice, and you advance to the Ascension Match. However, lose twice, and your season comes to an end.

All Group Stage matches will take place in Riot Games' newly enhanced Pro Player High Performance Rooms at the Riot Games Arena, featuring a dynamic, community-driven broadcast that brings fans right into the action.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Riot Games Arena stage, where they’ll battle in front of a live crowd during two high-stakes Ascension Finals. Each showdown will be a best-of-five (Bo5).

All matches will run on Patch 11.07, with the map pool consisting of Abyss, Ascent, Bind, Corrode, Haven, Lotus, and Sunset.

The matches kick off on Oct. 18 with the two Ascension Matches set for Oct. 25 and Oct. 26. The matches for each day of the Group Stages will start at 5 p.m. CEST. Ascension Matches will start at 6 p.m. CEST on their respective days.

While the Group Stage won’t feature a live audience, Riot Games is introducing a brand-new, fun, and intimate broadcast style.

For the first five days of matches inside the player rooms, Riot will host a casual couch-style broadcast, where the on-air talent can kick back, react live, and share the experience with you as the games unfold. Expect lighthearted segments, interactive moments, and plenty of opportunities for fans to become part of the show.

They are also bringing the community closer than ever, with special guests joining throughout the broadcast, including co-streamers, Ascension players, team staff, and VCT EMEA pros in Berlin. Even the casters will drop by the couch before and after games.

Then, for the final two showdays, the classic live experience will return, this time in front of a packed crowd at the Riot Games Arena, where the high-stakes Ascension Matches will determine who rises to VCT EMEA 2026.

After the last match of the Group Stages, Riot will release a limited number of extra tickets for the final two Ascension Matches. These additional tickets will go on sale at the VCT EMEA official ticket page at 3 p.m. CEST on Oct. 23. Make sure you’re quick and don’t miss out!

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