VCT Pacific 2027 will replace Stage 1 and Stage 2 with 2 Cups, while Kickoff stays as the season opener. Riot Games has shared the full format, and it changes how partnered and non-partnered teams qualify. Each of the 3 regional tournaments will feature 12 teams on LAN. Six regional circuits will feed teams into the Cups, and the Pacific Last Chance Qualifier will give South Asia and Oceania a path.
This guide covers the schedule, slots, qualification steps, and payments for Open teams.
VCT Pacific 2027 Format and Schedule
VCT Pacific 2027 has 3 regional tournaments, and each one leads to an international event. Riot Games calls the model tournament-centric. The Cups replace the regular season, and Open Qualifiers feed every stage.
| Regional Tournament | Host City | Dates | International Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickoff | Bangkok, Thailand | Jan 14 to Feb 7 | Masters Seoul (Feb 20 to Mar 3) |
| Cup 1 | Manila, Philippines | Apr 29 to May 23 | Masters Valencia (Jun 5 to Jun 20) |
| Cup 2 | Tokyo, Japan | Aug 5 to Aug 29 | Champions Austin (Sep 16 to Oct 10) |
Kickoff opens the year in Bangkok. The top 3 teams from Kickoff advance to Masters Seoul. Cup 1 in Manila leads to Masters Valencia, and Cup 2 in Tokyo leads to Champions Austin.
Kickoff uses a triple-elimination bracket, as it did in 2026. Riot says the wider VCT calendar includes more than 50 tournaments across 15 cities.
How Kickoff Qualification Works
Kickoff is the only VCT Pacific tournament where all 8 partnered teams get a guaranteed place. The field has 12 teams, including 8 partnered teams with direct invites and 4 Open teams.
The 4 Open slots come from these routes:
- VCT Pacific Kickoff Korea Qualifier
- VCT Pacific Kickoff Japan Qualifier
- VCT Pacific Kickoff SEA Qualifier
- VCT Pacific Kickoff LCQ
The Kickoff LCQ has 4 teams. Two come from South Asia, 1 comes from Oceania, and the fourth is the runner-up of the SEA Kickoff Qualifier. The winner takes the final Open slot. The Kickoff Open Qualifiers begin later in November 2026.
Cup Slots for Each Region
VCT Pacific will have 6 regional qualification circuits including Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia. The Southeast Asia circuit covers the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and the rest of the region. Each Cup has 12 teams, and every team earns its place through qualification.
| Region | Cup Slots |
|---|---|
| Korea | 3 |
| Japan | 3 |
| Thailand | 1 |
| Indonesia | 1 |
| Vietnam | 1 |
| Southeast Asia | 2 |
| Pacific Last Chance Qualifier | 1 |
| Total | 12 |
Korea and Japan get the most slots, with 3 each. Southeast Asia gets 2. Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam each get 1 slot.
South Asia and Oceania have no direct Cup slots. Their teams must go through the Pacific Last Chance Qualifier. Riot says the slot design guarantees Open teams a chance to qualify even if every partner team in their region also qualifies.
How Teams Qualify for Cup 1 and Cup 2
Neither Cup gives automatic slots to partnered teams. Teams must qualify through their regional Playoffs. The path has 3 stages: Open Qualifiers, Play-ins, and Playoffs.
Open Qualifiers
Open Qualifiers are the main entry point. Eligible teams, including teams from the Premier ecosystem, can register for their regional event. Riot will hold several Open Qualifiers during the season. A team knocked out of one can register for the next.
Play-ins
Play-ins help teams earn a higher seed in the regional Playoffs. Up to 4 places in the top half of the 8-team Playoffs bracket come from Play-ins. The exact number depends on how many teams from that region reached the last Masters.
Teams can enter Play-ins through Open Qualifiers. Teams that played Kickoff or Cup 1 but missed the matching Masters get a Play-ins place automatically. A Play-ins appearance does not guarantee a Playoffs spot.
Regional Playoffs
Each of the 6 regions will host an 8-team Playoffs tournament. The best teams earn Cup slots based on the region’s allocation. Korea and Japan send their top 3 teams. Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam send their winners.
Masters Qualifiers Get a Top-4 Seed
Teams that qualify for Masters Seoul or Masters Valencia skip Open Qualifiers and Play-ins. They go straight into the top 4 of their next regional Playoffs.
For example, 2 Thai teams may qualify for Masters Seoul. Both would receive top-4 seeds in the next Thailand Playoffs. Only 2 more top-4 seeds would then be available through Thai Play-ins.
This benefit applies only to the Playoffs right after the Masters event. It covers partnered and non-partnered teams alike.
What Is the Pacific Last Chance Qualifier?
The Pacific Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) gives teams one more route to the Cups. It takes place after the regional Playoffs and has 8 teams. The winner becomes the 12th and final team in the Cup.
| Region | LCQ Teams | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| South Asia | 2 | Regional qualification |
| Oceania | 1 | Regional qualification |
| Vietnam | 1 | Playoffs runner-up |
| Thailand | 2 | Playoffs 2nd and 3rd |
| Indonesia | 2 | Playoffs 2nd and 3rd |
The LCQ matters most for South Asia and Oceania, which have no direct Cup slots. It also lets Thailand and Indonesia send more than 1 team to a Cup.
What Changes for the 8 Partnered Teams
The 8 partnered teams keep a guaranteed Kickoff place. After that, results decide their path:
- A partnered team that qualifies for Masters gets a top-4 seed in its next regional Playoffs.
- A team that plays Kickoff or Cup 1 but misses Masters enters the next Play-ins.
- A team that fails to advance through Play-ins must enter Open Qualifiers like any other team.
A non-partnered team that performs better than a partnered team can move further through the system.
Fixed Payments for Open Teams
Riot Games will pay US$100,000 to every Open team that qualifies for Kickoff or a Cup. The payment applies per event. An Open team that qualifies for both Kickoff and Cup 1 would receive US$200,000 in fixed payments. This is separate from prize money earned during tournaments.
Open Qualifier Regions
Open Qualifiers will run across 16 regions worldwide. VCT Pacific has 8 of them, including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Oceania. The first Open Qualifiers start in November 2026 and decide the final Kickoff slots.
