VALORANT Champions heads to Shanghai for historic first Chinese edition

VALORANT’s biggest annual tournament is heading to Shanghai for the first time, and the countdown clock is now officially ticking. VALORANT Champions 2026 will run from September 24 to October 18, marking a nearly month-long celebration of competitive play in a region that has long been a powerhouse in esports but never hosted this particular event. The stakes are enormous, and not just because of the $2.25 million prize pool. This is the last Champions under Riot Games’ current partnered-franchise model before the circuit transitions to an open qualifier format in 2027. What we know about the tournament All 16 teams earned their spots through VCT Stage 2 playoffs. Among them are NRG, the defending champions from the Americas region, along with Team Liquid and TYLOO, whose presence gives Chinese fans a hometown squad to rally behind. The group stages will take place at Jing’an Sports Center, while the finals move to the Mercedes-Benz Arena, one of Shanghai’s premier entertainment venues. Ticket sales went live on September 16. Riot has also rolled out the cultural extras that have become standard for Champions events. The official theme song, “If The Sun Burns Out Tonight,” feature...