VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers give amateur teams a path to Champions

Pavo Jurkic Published September 11, 2026

It’s official; Riot Games has just revealed the open qualifiers for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2027 series. The open qualifiers are scheduled for November and aim to give amateur teams a clear path to one of the biggest stages in competitive esports.

More precisely, the new ecosystem will be divided into three main regions: EMEA, Americas, and Pacific, each of which will feature 12 teams. Out of those 12 teams, eight will be partner organizations, while the four remaining teams will come from Open Qualifiers.

That said, the best teams from Open Qualifiers can qualify for Kickoff, Cups, Masters, and Champions events starting in 2027. Teams that reach major VCT events without a partnership deal will receive meaningful financial support in the form of fixed qualification payments.

What’s next for amateur VALORANT teams

If you’re a part of an amateur team, there’s no need to register right away. But you shouldn’t waste time gathering high-quality VALORANT players and cementing your starting roster within the next few weeks.

Once again, the first Open Qualifiers are scheduled for November, meaning the sooner you cement your starting roster, the more you’ll be able to work on your teamwork and cohesion. Plus, the registration hasn’t even opened yet. Keep tabs on your regional VALORANT channels to stay up to date on everything regarding the 2027 VCT Open Qualifiers.

Also, keep in mind that you’ll need a proper team name, logo, and branding, without infringing on other teams’ trademarks and copyrights. Additionally, three out of five players need to be from the region your team is registered with.

Image credit: Riot Games

Riot Games has promised more details on the 2027 VCT season soon, including the full schedule and additional details regarding Open Qualifiers. So far, we know the following:

• VCT 2027 Free Agency begins on November 2026
• VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers start sometime in November 2026
• VCT 2027 Kickoff starts sometime in January 2027
• The first 2027 VCT Masters will happen sometime in February 2027

Fans on Reddit reacted to the information in a good way. One reaction highlighted that there will be not be an official off-season now. In the earlier partnership program, the period between Champions and the Kick-Off event gave fans a few months of off-season events.

During this, typically, we got to see third-party events taking shape. Now, the extended open system will ensure constant VALORANT esports action. Nonetheless, we will be bringing you all the latest VALORANT stats and news.

Featured image credit: Riot Games