VALORANT Champions 2026 Heads to Shanghai for the Final Franchised-Era Title

VALORANT Champions 2026 is set for Shanghai, running September 23 to October 18, and it carries extra weight this year: it’s the last Champions tournament before the VCT abandons its franchised structure for an open qualifier system in 2027.

The Setup

Sixteen teams will compete for a $2.25 million prize pool at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, the same venue that hosted Masters Shanghai 2024’s record-setting crowds. China previously hosted Champions in Seoul (2024) and will have hosted a rotation through South Korea, France, and now China by the time this event wraps, part of Riot’s plan to bring the world championship to each major VCT region in turn.

Why the Franchised Era Is Ending

2026 is the fourth and final season of the franchised VCT structure, where a fixed set of partner teams competed in closed regional leagues with guaranteed slots. Starting in 2027, the VCT returns to open qualifiers, giving unsigned and lower-tier teams a real path back into top-flight competition. That makes Shanghai the last Champions crowned under the current system, and the last guaranteed appearance for some current franchise partners.

Why It Matters

Champions is already the single biggest event on the VALORANT calendar, but this year it’s also a changing of the guard. Whoever wins in Shanghai closes out an era of VCT that started with the franchised system’s launch, right before Riot opens the door to a more competitive, higher-stakes free-for-all in 2027.