- Dates
- 24 September to 18 October 2026 (Grand Final on Sunday 18 October)
- Venues
- Jing’an Sports Center, Shanghai (groups and early playoffs); Mercedes-Benz Arena, Pudong, Shanghai (finals weekend, 16 to 18 October)
- Organiser
- Riot Games
- Prize pool
- US$2,250,000; the champion wins US$1,000,000
- Teams
- 16: four each from VCT Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China
- Format
- Four GSL groups (best of 3), then an 8-team double-elimination playoff; Lower Final and Grand Final best of 5
- Indian team
- Global Esports, VCT Pacific Stage 2 champion
- Match times (IST)
- Group stage 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM; finals weekend shows start 11:30 AM
- Stream
- VALORANT Esports on YouTube and Twitch
- Status
- Completed. LOUD won VALORANT Champions 2026, beating Team Vitality 3–1 in the grand final on 18 October
VALORANT Champions 2026, also called Champions Shanghai 2026 or VCT Champions 2026, is the world championship of the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour. Sixteen teams from the four VCT leagues play in Shanghai from 24 September to 18 October 2026 for a US$2,250,000 prize pool, with US$1,000,000 for the champion. It is the first Champions held in China. LOUD won the title, beating Team Vitality 3–1 in the grand final on 18 October. India’s Global Esports, the VCT Pacific Stage 2 winners, finished 9th–12th.
Winners
Results and standings
| Place | Team | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOUD | US$1,000,000 |
| 2 | Team Vitality | US$400,000 |
| 3 | 100 Thieves | US$250,000 |
| 4 | G2 Esports | US$130,000 |
| 5th–6th | NRG | US$85,000 |
| 5th–6th | T1 | US$85,000 |
| 7th–8th | Nongshim RedForce | US$50,000 |
| 7th–8th | Paper Rex | US$50,000 |
| 9th–12th | Team Liquid | US$30,000 |
| 9th–12th | Karmine Corp | US$30,000 |
| 9th–12th | Global Esports | US$30,000 |
| 9th–12th | FUT Esports | US$30,000 |
| 13th–16th | TYLOO | US$20,000 |
| 13th–16th | Xi Lai Gaming | US$20,000 |
| 13th–16th | EDward Gaming | US$20,000 |
| 13th–16th | JD Gaming | US$20,000 |
Group A (as of 5 Oct)
| # | Team | Series | Maps | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 Thieves | 2–0 | 4–0 | Playoffs |
| 2 | T1 | 2–1 | 4–3 | Playoffs |
| 3 | FUT Esports | 1–2 | 2–4 | Eliminated |
| 4 | JD Gaming | 0–2 | 1–4 | Eliminated |
Group B (as of 4 Oct)
| # | Team | Series | Maps | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Vitality | 2–0 | 4–1 | Playoffs |
| 2 | LOUD | 2–1 | 4–2 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Global Esports | 1–2 | 3–4 | Eliminated |
| 4 | EDward Gaming | 0–2 | 0–4 | Eliminated |
Group C (as of 3 Oct)
| # | Team | Series | Maps | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paper Rex | 2–0 | 4–2 | Playoffs |
| 2 | G2 Esports | 2–1 | 5–2 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Team Liquid | 1–2 | 3–5 | Eliminated |
| 4 | TYLOO | 0–2 | 1–4 | Eliminated |
Group D (as of 5 Oct)
| # | Team | Series | Maps | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NRG | 2–0 | 4–1 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Nongshim RedForce | 2–1 | 4–3 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Karmine Corp | 1–2 | 4–4 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Xi Lai Gaming | 0–2 | 0–4 | Eliminated |
Teams
- 100 ThievesCryocells, bang, vora, Timotino, Asuna
- T1Meteor, Munchkin, iZu, stax, BuZz
- JD GamingBerLIN, zhe, crownfisher, jkuro, Yuicaw
- FUT EsportsKROSTALY, s0pp, sociablEE, yetujey, xeus
- Global Esportsxavi8k, UdoTan, Kr1stal, Autumn, PatMen
- Team VitalityPROFEK, Sayonara, Jamppi, Chronicle, Derke
- LOUDtkzin, erde, DaviH, lukxo, Darker
- EDward GamingZmjjKK, CHICHOO, Smoggy, nobody, stew
- TYLOOSiuFatBB, slowly, Erv, Scales, splash
- G2 Esportstrent, BABYBAY, leaf, valyn, jawgemo
- Team Liquidtrexx, nAts, Kicks, GSR, kamo
- Paper Rexsomething, d4v41, Jinggg, f0rsakeN, invy
- Karmine CorpAvez, LewN, dos9, N4RRATE, SUYGETSU
- Xi Lai GamingWsLeo, Rarga, NoMan, happywei, Lysoar
- Nongshim RedForceXross, Francis, Ivy, Rb, Dambi
- NRGmada, brawk, skuba, keiko, Ethan
| League | Stage 2 finalists | Qualified on Championship Points |
|---|---|---|
| VCT Americas | 100 Thieves (champion), LOUD (runner-up) | NRG, G2 Esports |
| VCT EMEA | Karmine Corp (champion), Team Liquid (runner-up) | FUT Esports, Team Vitality |
| VCT Pacific | Global Esports (champion), Nongshim RedForce (runner-up) | Paper Rex, T1 |
| VCT China | TYLOO (champion), JD Gaming (runner-up) | EDward Gaming, Xi Lai Gaming |
Groups
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | 100 Thieves, T1, JD Gaming, FUT Esports |
| Group B | Global Esports, Team Vitality, LOUD, EDward Gaming |
| Group C | TYLOO, G2 Esports, Team Liquid, Paper Rex |
| Group D | Karmine Corp, Xi Lai Gaming, Nongshim RedForce, NRG |
Schedule
| Stage | Dates | Venue | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage: opening matches | 24–27 Sep 2026 | Jing’an Sports Center | 8 |
| Group stage: winners’ matches | 29–30 Sep 2026 | Jing’an Sports Center | 4 |
| Group stage: elimination and decider matches | 1–4 Oct 2026 | Jing’an Sports Center | 8 |
| Playoffs: early rounds | From 7 Oct 2026 | Jing’an Sports Center | Upper bracket and lower bracket rounds |
| Finals weekend: Lower Semi-final and Upper Final | 16–17 Oct 2026 | Mercedes-Benz Arena | Best of 3 |
| Grand Final | Sunday 18 Oct 2026 | Mercedes-Benz Arena | 1 (best of 5) |
Exact playoff match days are added as Riot confirms them. Group stage matches start at 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM Shanghai time (2:30 PM and 5:30 PM IST). On finals weekend the show starts at 2:00 PM Shanghai time (11:30 AM IST). Shanghai is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of India.
Format
- Group stage (24 September to 4 October): four groups of four, one team from each league per group. Each group is a GSL bracket: two opening matches, a winners’ match and an elimination match, then a decider. Two series wins take a team to the playoffs; two losses knock it out. All matches are best of 3.
- Playoffs (7 to 18 October): the eight group qualifiers play a double-elimination bracket. All matches are best of 3 except the Lower Final and the Grand Final, which are best of 5.
Prize pool
| Place | Team | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | LOUD | US$1,000,000 |
| 2nd | Team Vitality | US$400,000 |
| 3rd | 100 Thieves | US$250,000 |
| 4th | G2 Esports | US$130,000 |
| 5th–6th | TBD | US$85,000 each |
| 7th–8th | TBD | US$50,000 each |
| 9th–12th | TBD | US$30,000 each |
| 13th–16th | TBD | US$20,000 each |
| Total prize pool | US$2,250,000 | |
Global Esports at Champions 2026
Global Esports, the Indian organisation in VCT Pacific, qualified by winning VCT Pacific Stage 2. Its roster is xavi8k, UdoTan, Kr1stal, Autumn and PatMen. Drawn in Group B, Global Esports lost its opening match 1–2 to Team Vitality on 26 September and plays EDward Gaming in the elimination match on 2 October.
Venues and tickets
The group stage and early playoff rounds are at Jing’an Sports Center. Finals weekend (16 to 18 October) moves to the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Pudong. Finals weekend tickets went on general sale on 16 September through MAISEAT for international buyers, priced from ¥388 to ¥1,708 for 16 and 17 October and from ¥488 to ¥2,108 for the Grand Final.
How to watch in India
Every match streams live on the official VALORANT Esports channels on YouTube and Twitch. Riot also runs vertical streams on TikTok, which is not available in India.
Champions 2025 recap
NRG won VALORANT Champions 2025 in Paris, beating Fnatic 3–2 in the Grand Final. All past winners are on the VALORANT Champions page.
VALORANT Champions 2026 news and coverage
- Valorant’s Next Agent: Release Date, Abilities, Leaks, and More 12 Oct 2026
- Vitality Defeats G2 to Reach VALORANT Champions 2026 Upper Bracket Finals 11 Oct 2026
- Valorant Agent 31 Reveal Set for Champions Shanghai as Leaks Point to a White-Haired Duelist 11 Oct 2026
- LOUD Edge Past NRG in Valorant Champions 2026 Upper Bracket Semifinals 10 Oct 2026
- Paper Rex Complete an Unwanted Valorant Record After Champions Shanghai Exit 10 Oct 2026
- Corrode to Return to Valorant Map Pool in V26A6: Leaks 6 Oct 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Playoffs Pick’Ems Guide: Best Predictions 6 Oct 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Playoffs: Bracket, Teams, Schedule, and Where to Watch 5 Oct 2026
- Global Esports at Valorant Champions 2026: Full Journey From Kickoff to Shanghai 4 Oct 2026
- Global Esports vs LOUD: GE Knocked Out of Valorant Champions 2026 as LOUD Reach Playoffs 4 Oct 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Global Esports vs LOUD: Date, Time, Where to Watch, and More 4 Oct 2026
- China’s VALORANT Champions Nightmare Gets Worse as Three Home Teams Crash Out in Shanghai 2 Oct 2026
- India’s Global Esports Knock Former World Champions EDG Out of VALORANT Champions 2026 2 Oct 2026
- Riot Makes Wired Mice Mandatory at Valorant Champions 2026 After Tech Issues 1 Oct 2026
- Vitality Sweep LOUD 2-0 in Valorant Champions 2026 Group B Winner’s Match 30 Sep 2026
- PRX Edge Past G2 in Valorant Champions 2026 Group C Winner’s Match 29 Sep 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Vitality vs LOUD: Match Details, Predictions, and Where to Watch 29 Sep 2026
- Not a Single Map: China’s Nightmare Starts at VALORANT Champions 2026 28 Sep 2026
- Vitality Defeats Global Esports in Valorant Champions 2026 Opener 26 Sep 2026
- Global Esports VCT Champions 2026 Schedule: Matches, Dates and Opponents 25 Sep 2026
- Valorant Champions Shanghai Schedule 2026: Full Dates, Match Times and Results 25 Sep 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Day 1: Matches, Timings, and Where to Watch 23 Sep 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Starts September 24: Teams, Format, Schedule, and More 22 Sep 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle Might Be the Priciest Yet, Leaks Reveal 21 Sep 2026
- VALORANT Champions 2026 Bundle: What Makes It Different from Past Bundles 21 Sep 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle Revealed: Skins, Price, Release Date, and More 20 Sep 2026
- VALORANT Champions 2026: The Biggest Teams That Missed Out 16 Sep 2026
- Valorant Champions Shanghai 2026 Pick’Ems Guide: All Group Stage Picks 11 Sep 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026: Teams, Schedule, Pick’Ems, and Where to Watch 5 Sep 2026
- VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026: All Qualified Teams So Far 5 Sep 2026
- Global Esports Qualifies for VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 4 Sep 2026
- When Is the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle Coming Out 2 Sep 2026
- Riot Confirms Champions Shanghai Pick’Ems, Agent Gear Changes, Stream Sniping Bans, and More in Valorant 13.05 Update 1 Sep 2026
- Global Esports’ Path to VCT Champions Shanghai 2026 Explained 31 Aug 2026
- Fnatic to Miss LoL Worlds for the First Time in a Decade 31 Aug 2026
- VALORANT Champions 2026: Dates and Qualified Teams So Far 31 Aug 2026
- Karmine Corp Win VCT EMEA Stage 2 2026 31 Aug 2026
- Valorant Champions Shanghai 2026: All Qualified Teams So Far 24 Aug 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle: Everything We Know So Far 15 Aug 2026
- Fnatic to Miss Valorant Champions for the First Time in History 15 Aug 2026
- Valorant Champions 2026 Pick’Em Rewards Leaked: Everything You Can Get 14 Aug 2026
- Abyss to Replace Breeze in Valorant V26A5 Competitive Map Rotation: Leaks 12 Aug 2026
- VALORANT Champions 2026 to Be Held in Shanghai, China – Dates, Venue, Teams, and Details 4 Sep 2025
FAQs
When is VALORANT Champions 2026?
From 24 September to 18 October 2026. The Grand Final is on Sunday 18 October.
Where is VALORANT Champions 2026 being held?
In Shanghai, China. The group stage and early playoffs are at Jing’an Sports Center and finals weekend (16 to 18 October) is at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
What is the VALORANT Champions 2026 prize pool?
US$2,250,000. The champion wins US$1,000,000 and the runner-up US$400,000.
How many teams play VALORANT Champions 2026?
16 teams, four from each VCT league: Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China.
Is an Indian team playing at VALORANT Champions 2026?
Yes. Global Esports qualified by winning VCT Pacific Stage 2.
What time are VALORANT Champions 2026 matches in India?
Group stage matches start at 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM IST. On finals weekend the show starts at 11:30 AM IST.
Where can I watch VALORANT Champions 2026 in India?
On the official VALORANT Esports YouTube and Twitch channels.
What is the format of VALORANT Champions 2026?
Four GSL groups of four (best of 3), then an 8-team double-elimination playoff. The Lower Final and Grand Final are best of 5.
Who won VALORANT Champions 2025?
NRG, who beat Fnatic 3–2 in the Grand Final in Paris.
Sources (6)
- Champions Shanghai: finals weekend live audience and ticket sale information (Riot Games) valorantesports.com
- VALORANT Champions 2026: brackets, groups and results (VLR.gg) vlr.gg
- VALORANT Champions 2026 Shanghai hub (esports.gg) esports.gg
- VALORANT Champions 2026 Shanghai schedule and results (Dot Esports) dotesports.com
- VALORANT Champions 2026: everything you need to know (THESPIKE) thespike.gg
- All teams qualified for Champions Shanghai 2026 (THESPIKE) thespike.gg
