Riot Reveals New Triple-Elimination Format for the 2026 VCT Kickoff

The format for the 2026 Kickoff tournaments has been officially unveiled, introducing a completely new triple-elimination bracket for the upcoming VCT season.

Each regional Kickoff event will determine three qualifying teams for the year’s first international Masters event, which will take place in Santiago. Masters Santiago will feature twelve teams representing all four leagues — an increase from the usual eight-team lineup seen at Masters Bangkok and Masters Madrid.

All twelve squads will start in the upper bracket, with the four teams that competed at Champions 2025 receiving a one-round bye. The tournament structure includes upper, middle, and lower brackets; a loss moves a team one bracket down, while a loss in the lower bracket results in elimination. In this system, a team must lose three matches before being knocked out of contention.

One major change is the absence of a traditional grand final. Instead, the competition will conclude as soon as three teams secure qualification — one emerging from each bracket: upper, middle, and lower.

The 2026 VCT season begins in January, with regional Kickoff events starting on the following dates:

• Americas: January 15
• EMEA: January 20
• Pacific: January 22
• China: January 22