Riot Games has announced the dates and venues for the 2027 VALORANT Champions Tour, featuring over 50 events occurring in 15 different cities, with Austin set to host the Champions for the very first time.
A worldwide schedule featuring new qualification pathways
The calendar, disclosed by Sheep Esports and TheSpike.gg on October 15, includes Open Qualifiers, Kickoff, Cups, Masters, and Champions. Riot’s initiative spans more than $7 million in prize funds, and regional competitions will take place across a variety of cities and nations instead of being localized.
The six partner teams in EMEA, the Americas, and the Pacific will gain direct entry exclusively to their respective regional Kickoff events. They will then face teams advancing from the Open Qualifiers for spots in the other tournaments. Conversely, Chinese partner and visiting organizations will be granted invitations to Kickoff and Cups, all within the regional framework influenced by VCT’s Chinese partnership strategies.
Confirmed VCT 2027 dates and venues
The finalized timetable connects regional tournaments with global stages:
- Kickoff: From January 14 to February 7 in São Paulo, Berlin, Bangkok, and Hangzhou.
- Masters: Scheduled from February 20 to March 3 in Seoul.
- Cup 1: Taking place from April 29 to May 23 in Mexico City, Warsaw, Manila, and Wuhan.
- Masters: Set for June 5 to June 20 in Valencia.
- Cup 2: Slated for August 5 to August 29 in Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Shanghai.
- Champions and Game Changers Championship: Occurring from September 16 to October 10 in Austin.
This structure provides teams, sponsors, and broadcasters with a clear timeline and venue details well in advance of the competitive season. Austin will conclude as the venue for the world championship, which will be held concurrently with the Game Changers Championship.
Support for Open teams during events
The Open Qualifiers are set to commence in November 2026, marking the initial path to Kickoff. Teams progressing from the Open Qualifiers towards Kickoff or a Cup will be awarded $100,000 for each event; reaching Masters will bring $200,000, and an open team that successfully qualifies for Champions will gain $400,000 in financial support. Additionally, every participating team at the Game Changers Championship will be granted $100,000.
Anna Donlon, Head of VALORANT Studios, along with Leo Faria, Global Head of VALORANT Esports, characterized the Opens as an opportunity for rising competitors to challenge established players, allowing local champions to rise. According to comments reported by Sheep Esports, the Opens aim to match seasoned players against up-and-coming rivals, celebrate local talents, and enable the top teams to advance to Cups, Masters, and Champions.
The financial assistance is designed to support teams as they navigate through multiple phases, with reports suggesting that an open team could earn upwards of $1 million during a successful season. The inaugural Open Qualifiers in November will kickstart the quest to fill the Kickoff lineup for 2027.
