Riot Games has confirmed a change of venue for the VCT EMEA Stage 2 finals, moving the event from Madrid to Barcelona. The tournament is scheduled to take place from August 28th to 30th at the Olímpic Arena.
The publisher initially announced Madrid as the host city for the regional final in January 2026. According to a Riot Games press release, the adjustment was necessary as the company stated: “We needed to adjust our plans for the event, but we’re staying in Spain and bringing the full VALORANT experience to fans across the country and beyond.”
Event Format and Team Qualification
The VCT EMEA Stage 2 finals will feature all 16 partnered teams from the EMEA region. The competition structure consists of three phases: a Group Stage, Play-Ins, and a double-elimination Playoffs bracket.
A significant format change for the 2026 season involves the inclusion of tier-two VALORANT. For the first time in VCT history, teams competing in the Challengers circuit will have the opportunity to earn a slot in the Stage 2 Playoffs. Successful qualification through this pathway also grants these teams a place at VALORANT Champions 2026. Riot Games has detailed that four Challengers teams per international league will compete for this opportunity.
Placement Within the 2026 VCT Calendar
The VCT EMEA Stage 2 finals occupy a specific slot in the 2026 competitive calendar. The event is positioned between Masters London, which takes place in June, and Champions Shanghai, scheduled for September.
The 2026 VCT season maintains its established structure of three regional tournaments per region—Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2—alongside three global events: two Masters tournaments and the season-ending VALORANT Champions competition. The full competitive roadmap for the year was unveiled by Riot Games in late 2025.
Broader VCT 2026 Location Strategy
Riot Games is implementing a wider variety of host locations across all four VCT regions—EMEA, Americas, Pacific, and China—for the 2026 season. This strategy aims to better connect with the game’s audiences globally.
All Stage 2 finals in 2026 are taking place in new locations:
- VCT EMEA: Barcelona, Spain (Olímpic Arena)
- VCT Americas: São Paulo, Brazil
- VCT Pacific: Busan, South Korea
VCT China has adopted a roadshow format for its 2026 season, featuring multiple host cities. The region’s Stage 2 Playoffs are set for Chengdu. Additionally, VCT Pacific previously announced Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, as the host city for its Stage 1 finals.