Riot Games announces new VALORANT Champions Tour

• Starting in 2027, VALORANT Esports will feature a new format
• Changes to the format seek to increase the stakes, bring more regional events while enabling more teams to play against top-tier teams
• Beginning next year, partnerships will be a two-year term instead of the previous four-year term

Riot Games, the developer of VALORANT, the popular competitive shooter, confirmed its plans to roll out significant changes to VALORANT Esports, implementing a new tournament system.

On Wednesday this week, the company revealed that VALORANT Esports in 2027 will switch from a league-based format to a tournament-style structure.

The strategic overhaul is expected to bring high-stakes moments throughout the season as well as new ways for any team to qualify for VCT’s global events: Masters and Champions.

New structure brings more regional events, higher stakes

Starting from 2027, Riot Games’ VALORANT Esports teams will compete in a unified system and single tier of competition.

Besides higher stakes from the first match, the new VCT is developed in a way to deliver more regional events.

At the same time, the new esports tournament format will feature faster progression to global stages and create greater competitive opportunities.

With VCT 2027, "Everything Is a Tournament," which is why more Tier 2 and Tier 3 teams will have an opportunity to play with top-flight teams.

This transition from a closed model that focused on partnered teams effectively enables strong non-partner teams to progress.

Riot Games has decided to change its model and build on its previous success and experience.

Equally important, starting in 2027, Valorant teams that want to compete will have a chance to enter Open Qualifiers that can help them reach VCT’s global events: Masters and Champions.

"This new structure removes the barriers for rising talent and creates a direct path for more teams to get to the top of the sport," reads a statement from the leading game developer.

Moreover, Riot Games wrote: "With an all-tournament format and an expanded schedule of events, the VCT is heading to more cities, giving more players and fans the opportunity to experience all the sport has to offer."

Besides overhauling its format, Riot Games confirmed changes to its partnership cycles.

Beginning with the 2027 season, partnerships will be for a two-year term, while applications for potential teams have already been opened.

"Established teams who are not already part of the partnership program and would like to be considered can reach out to their respective regional Riot Esports teams," the leading game developer explained.

A comprehensive criterion will determine the teams that will be part of the partnership program.

Image credit: Riot Games