12 VCT Pacific teams confirmed for 2026

Bryan Francis Published October 27, 2025

VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 has officially concluded. In the lower bracket finals, Boom Esports faced off against Nongshim RedForce in an exciting match. Nongshim RedForce emerged victorious with a commanding 3-1 scoreline, becoming the final team to qualify for VCT Pacific 2026. In this article, we’ll explore the key events of this match and its future implications.

Nongshim RedForce is the Final Team to Secure their Place in VCT Pacific 2026

Image Credits: Riot Games

As the VALORANT Champions 2025 wrapped up, the journey to the 2026 season of VCT commenced. VCT Ascension Pacific was the first tournament of the VCT Esports off-season, featuring the best teams from regional VCT Challengers leagues competing in a lengthy event. The top two teams from this tournament would earn their spots in the VCT Pacific 2026 season. In the upper bracket finals, SLT Seongnam defeated Boom Esports decisively with a 3-0 sweep, securing their place in next season’s VCT Pacific.

Nongshim RedForce faced off against BOOM Esports in the rematch of the grand finals of VCT Ascension 2024. Following that match, both teams had secured a spot in VCT Pacific for the 2025 season. In the lower bracket finals, the first maps were quite close. Boom Esports took the early lead, winning map 1 with a score of 13-11. In Maps 2 and 3, Nongshim RedForce showcase brilliant VALORANT and secure the victory with 13-6 and 14-12 scorelines.

In Map 4, Boom Esports started strong, but Nongshim RedForce equalized to 6-6. In the second half, while on the attack, Boom Esports struggled. Nongshim RedForce won seven consecutive rounds to clinch the match. With this victory, Nongshim RedForce became the fifth team from South Korea to join VCT Pacific for the 2026 season. Kim “Francis” Mu-bin from Nongshim RedForce was named Player of the Tournament at VCT Pacific Ascension 2025.

The Aftermath of Pacific Ascension 2025

Image Credits: Riot Games

With the conclusion of VCT Pacific Ascension 2025, the 12 teams that will take part in the 2026 season have been confirmed:

• Paper Rex
• Gen G
• T1
• DRX
• Rex Regum Qeon
• Talon Esports
• Team Secret
• Global Esports
• SLT Seongnam
• Nongshim RedForce
• DetonationFocusMe
• Zeta Division

VCT Pacific 2026 will be the final season with the current roster of the ten partnership teams. Riot Games previously announced that in the 2027 season of VCT, there will be multiple changes to the leagues. Some changes have already been announced for the 2026 season as well.

The top four teams from the various VCT Challengers leagues in the Pacific region will qualify for the VCT Pacific Stage Two playoffs, where each team will compete for the chance to secure a spot at VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai, China. This format opens the door for more Tier 2 teams to participate in the most prestigious VALORANT tournament of the year.

Image Credits: Riot Games