VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff Preview: Schedule, Format, Teams and Prize Pool

VCT Americas Kickoff 2026 marks the starting point of the new Valorant Champions Tour season in the Americas region and stands out as one of the key valorant events that define the early competitive landscape. The tournament opens the year for the strongest teams from North and South America and sets the tone for the entire regional race toward international stages. In 2026, Riot Games introduced an updated format that makes the competition longer, more flexible, and more competitive, increasing its overall importance within the global Valorant ecosystem.

Schedule and Location

The tournament will take place from January 15 to February 15, 2026. A duration of nearly one month allows teams to adapt to the format, recover between matches, and build a long-term strategy throughout the event.

All matches will be held at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, United States, one of the key venues for VCT tournaments. The arena is already familiar to players and fans, while the offline format adds extra pressure for participants—especially for teams that recently qualified through Ascension.

VCT Americas Kickoff officially opens the VCT Americas 2026 season and serves as the first step toward the year’s international tournaments.

Tournament Format: Triple Elimination

The main innovation of Kickoff 2026 is the triple-elimination format. Unlike the traditional double-elimination system, teams are given more opportunities to stay in contention even after multiple losses.

Key format features:

• A team is eliminated only after three losses.
• The bracket is divided into the Upper Bracket, Middle Bracket, and Lower Bracket, providing additional comeback paths.
• Most matches are played in a Best-of-Three (Bo3) format.
• Final matches of each bracket are played as Best-of-Five (Bo5).
• Four teams that competed at VALORANT Champions Paris 2025 receive automatic byes into Round 2 of the Upper Bracket.

This approach reduces the impact of early upsets and makes the tournament fairer for consistent teams, while also increasing the number of matches and overall strategic depth.

Key Dates and Opening Matches

The tournament begins with several high-profile matchups in the opening days:

January 15, 2026

• LOUD vs Cloud9
• ENVY vs Evil Geniuses

January 16, 2026

• KRÜ Esports vs FURIA
• 100 Thieves vs Leviatán

Following the opening weekend, matches across the upper, middle, and lower brackets will continue throughout late January and early February. The schedule will be updated as teams progress through the bracket.

Matches are typically scheduled for afternoon and evening Pacific Time (PT) to accommodate international broadcasts.

VCT Americas 2026 — Teams & Rosters

A total of 12 teams will compete in VCT Americas Kickoff 2026, representing North America, Brazil, and Latin America. The lineup includes long-established partner organizations alongside teams that earned their place through the Ascension system, creating a balanced and competitive field.

We can see a new roster at the American Kickoff — ENVY, featuring arguably the most well-known Yoru player, Eggsterr.

Prize Structure and Stakes

VCT Americas Kickoff 2026 does not feature a direct cash prize pool. Instead, the value of the event lies in international qualification and Championship Points.

Rewards:

• 1st place — Masters Santiago slot + 4 VCT Americas Points
• 2nd place — Masters Santiago slot + 3 VCT Americas Points
• 3rd place — Masters Santiago slot + 2 VCT Americas Points
• 4th place — 1 point
• 5th–12th place — no points

Finishing in the top three is the primary objective for most teams, as these positions secure entry to the first international Masters tournament of the 2026 season in Santiago.

Where to Watch

All matches will be broadcast globally on:

• Twitch
• YouTube
• TikTok (official VALORANT Esports Americas channels)

Commentary will be available in:

• English
• Portuguese
• Spanish

Fans who wish to attend the event in person can purchase tickets through official partners, including Tixr.

Expectations and Outlook

VCT Americas Kickoff 2026 is more than just the start of the season—it is a full-scale test of team form after the offseason. The new triple-elimination format provides greater room for adaptation, experimentation, and comebacks after losses. Instead of early elimination, teams are given the opportunity to demonstrate roster depth, drafting flexibility, and mental resilience.

Every match is a step toward Masters qualification, Championship Points, and ultimately VALORANT Champions 2026, which is why Kickoff is already considered one of the most important regional tournaments of the year.