VALORANT Champions is an annual Valorant esports tournament, the final part of the Valorant Championships Tour (VCT). Riot Games is the developer of the game. The tournament features 16 top teams competing for a large cash prize.
VALORANT Champions 2027
VALORANT Champions 2027 will be the first World Championship under the new era of the VALORANT Champions Tour. The tournament will take place in the Americas, although the exact dates, city and venues have not yet been announced.
Riot Games has confirmed that the VCT structure will undergo major changes starting in 2027. Instead of the previous system of regular leagues and Ascension, a unified competitive system will create more opportunities for new teams to reach the biggest international tournaments.
Key changes to VCT 2027:
- Open qualification: Teams will be able to qualify for VCT tournaments and potentially Champions through open qualifiers. They will no longer need to follow the previous multi-year path through Ascension.
- Unified system: All teams will compete within a single VCT level, without the previous division between the main and developmental tiers.
- More tournaments: More than 20 competitions will be held throughout the year, with VCT visiting more than 16 cities worldwide.
- More opportunities for teams: Teams will have several chances throughout the season to qualify for Masters and Champions.
- New partnership cycle: A new two-year partnership cycle will begin with the 2027 season.
- Financial support: Teams reaching major VCT stages will be eligible for fixed payments, while the total prize pools across VCT tournaments are expected to exceed $6 million per year.
However, Riot Games has not yet revealed the full 2027 schedule, the exact number of Champions participants or the format of the final tournament.
History of the Tournament
VALORANT is a first-person tactical shooter released by Riot Games in June 2020. The game quickly became one of the biggest disciplines in modern esports.
In 2021, Riot Games launched the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) — a global competitive system culminating in VALORANT Champions.
The first World Championship was held in December 2021 in Berlin, Germany. Since then, Champions has brought together the best teams from the Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China every year.
With each season, Riot Games has continued to evolve the VCT structure, aiming to create a more accessible path to the World Championship. In 2026, Path to Champions was introduced for Challengers teams, while the 2027 system will become even more open through qualification opportunities for teams from across the competitive ecosystem.
Interesting Facts About VALORANT Champions
- The first VALORANT Champions was held in 2021 in Berlin.
- The championship is the biggest and most prestigious tournament of the year in professional VALORANT.
- In 2026, Champions is taking place in Shanghai from September 24 to October 18.
- Champions 2026 features 16 teams from four regions: Americas, China, EMEA and Pacific.
- In 2027, teams will be able to qualify for Masters and Champions through open qualification opportunities.
- The new VCT format is expected to feature more than 20 tournaments per year and visit more than 16 cities worldwide.
Results of Previous VALORANT Champions Seasons
| Year | Host Location | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Paris, France | NRG |
| 2024 | Seoul and Incheon, South Korea | Edward Gaming |
| 2023 | Los Angeles and Inglewood, USA | Evil Geniuses |
In 2025, the championship was held in Paris. NRG won the title after the final stage of the tournament in France.
In 2024, Edward Gaming became the first Chinese team to win the championship. In 2023, the title went to American team Evil Geniuses.
VALORANT Champions 2028
The next World Championship after the 2027 tournament is scheduled for 2028. The exact dates, host location, format and list of participants have not yet been announced.
Riot Games is expected to reveal more details about future VCT seasons and international tournaments closer to the relevant championship.
The official website for the Esports Tournament.
Keep an eye on the Valorant Championships Tour schedule and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
