Riot Games has officially overhauled the Valorant esports system—the new VCT rules will go into effect starting with the 2027 season. And the changes, it must be said, are radical.
The most important point: Riot is moving away from a rigid partnership model in favor of open qualifiers. Now, any roster—whether a top partner or a pub team—will be able to qualify for Masters and Champions through qualifiers. Access to international tournaments will become truly fair.
“Every match must matter,” the publisher stated. They added: the number of LAN events will increase, and the geography will expand—tournaments will be held in 16+ cities around the world.
Starting in 2027, a two-year partnership cycle will begin. Applications will be accepted in advance, and selection will be based on a variety of criteria: from community engagement and organizational stability to pure athletic performance. And yes, even non-partnered clubs will be able to accumulate Champions points and receive payouts throughout the season.
Another key point is the VCT Cups. This is a new tournament format within the ecosystem. They plan to hold over 20 competitions per year—all LAN, all offering direct slots in Masters and Champions. This has never happened in Valorant before.
And speaking of money, Riot Games is significantly increasing the prize pool—it will exceed $6 million per year. Plus, all travel to international tournaments is now covered by the publisher. For regions with expensive tickets and visas, this is a huge plus.
In short, 2027 promises to be a very competitive year for the Valorant Champions Tour.
