In 2026, the VALORANT Kickoff stage will debut a brand-new format across all regions. Check out the full schedule below.
The 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) starts with the Kickoff stage, where 12 teams will qualify for the first international event of the year in Santiago, Chile. This time, the rules for the regional tournaments will change, so let's dive into everything happening next year!
Tournament format
In 2026, the Kickoff stage will debut a triple-elimination format. Twelve teams will battle it out, while the top four teams from Champions 2025 in each league will receive a first-round bye. From there, the top three teams in each league will secure their spots at the Masters Santiago tournament.
From Jan. 15 to Feb. 15, you’ll see the best teams rise to the top while those who fall short miss their chance to reach the international stage. The Kickoff stage winner will get four Championship Points, while the second gets three, the third gets two, and the fourth place gets only one.
The more, the better, as these points can secure a spot at the VALORANT Champions 2026 tournament. The biggest event of the year will be held in Shanghai, China.
Kickoff stage 2026 schedule
The Americas kick off the first domestic tournament of 2026 on Jan. 15. They are followed by Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, which starts its competition on Jan. 20. The Pacific and China regions will begin on the same day, Jan. 22. You can watch all the regional tournaments on their respective Twitch and YouTube channels.
In 2025, G2 Esports, Team Vitality, DRX, and EDward Gaming were the Kickoff stage winners. Can these teams repeat the same feat in 2026? Let's wait and see!
That's all for now. Stick around for more VALORANT news, guides, and updates on esports.gg.
