Riot Games just blew up its own competitive Valorant format and rebuilt it from scratch. The Valorant Champions Tour is shifting to an all-tournament model for its 2027 season, scrapping the franchised league system that has defined the circuit since its early days.
The announcement, made on April 8, 2026, through official Valorant Esports channels, represents one of the most significant structural overhauls in esports this year.
What the new VCT actually looks like
The centerpiece of the revamped circuit is a new series called VCT Cups. Eight of these events will replace the regional leagues that previously served as the backbone of competitive Valorant, with two Cups allocated per territory.
These Cups act as qualification pathways to the international tentpole events: Masters and Champions. The key difference from the old system is that entry comes through open qualifiers, meaning any team can theoretically fight its way onto the global stage.
