Riot Games has announced that the ultimate matches of VCT EMEA Stage 2 are scheduled to be held at the Olímpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain.
Earlier in January, the game developer had initially named Madrid as the designated venue for the regional championship event within the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT).
“We found it necessary to modify our arrangements for the event, but our commitment to Spain remains, aiming to deliver the complete VALORANT experience to enthusiasts nationwide and globally,” Riot Games declared in a published statement.
Consistent with prior years, the VCT 2026 schedule comprises three regional competitions—Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2—alongside three international spectacles, specifically two Masters events and the culminating VALORANT Champions tournament for the season.
Nevertheless, Riot Games has implemented a more diverse selection of hosting venues across the four VCT territories (EMEA, Americas, Pacific, and China) to foster stronger engagement with the game’s worldwide fanbase.
Significantly, every Stage 2 championship will unfold in novel settings: Barcelona, Spain, for VCT EMEA; São Paulo, Brazil, for VCT Americas; and Busan, South Korea, for VCT Pacific.
VCT China is set to feature a touring series across multiple host cities during its VCT 2026 season, with Chengdu hosting the Stage 2 Playoffs. Furthermore, VCT Pacific recently disclosed Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, as the site for its Stage 1 championship matches.
Current Information Regarding VCT EMEA Stage 2
VCT EMEA Stage 2 is slated to occur in the interval between Masters London in June and Champions Shanghai in September. According to its most recent press communication, Riot Games has verified August 28th through 30th as the designated dates for the Stage 2 championship.
The competition will involve 16 VCT EMEA teams battling through a Group Stage, Play-Ins, and a double-elimination Playoffs structure.
Additionally, marking a first in VCT history, squads originating from the secondary Challengers circuit will be granted an opportunity to secure a spot in the Stage 2 Playoffs and thereby qualify for VALORANT Champions 2026.
This article, titled ‘VCT EMEA Stage 2 championship venue shifted from Madrid to Barcelona,’ originally appeared on Esports Insider.
