VCT 2026: Riot Games cuts partner teams to 32, expands scholarships for open teams

Riot Games has just announced groundbreaking changes to the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) system for the 2026 season and its vision through 2027. According to the official announcement, the number of Partner teams will be reduced from 40 to 32 globally. This move aims to restructure the VCT ecosystem, concentrating resources on top organizations while opening greater opportunities for teams from open qualifiers. The original article by Tuấn Hưng on the esports news site analyzed in detail the privileges granted to the 32 partner teams, as well as the attractive financial pathway for non-partner teams. Accordingly, each partner team will have a direct slot to participate in the Kickoff – the season-opening event – without having to go through open qualifiers. Meanwhile, other teams can still compete at the Kickoff and Cups through the open qualifier system, but will face a much harsher path. Specifically, Kickoff 2026 is expected to feature 8 partner teams and 4 teams advancing through open qualifiers in each region (Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China). Thus, there will be a total of 12 teams competing at the Kickoff per region, equivalent to 48 teams worldwide. This number is inferred by analysts based on the structure of 32 partner teams divided equally across 4 regions, i.e., 8 teams per region. The most notable point in this announcement is the financial support package for teams in the open ecosystem. Accordingly, non-partner teams can receive support of up to $100,000 when they qualify for the Kickoff or a Cup, $200,000 when they reach Masters, and up to $400,000 when they secure a spot at Champions. The maximum total support per team in online events is $1.1 million. In particular, women's teams participating in Game Changers also benefit by receiving $100,000 if they secure a spot at the Game Changers Championship. This is considered an important step in institutionalizing the development path for female players. For partner teams, they continue to enjoy commercial and media privileges. Each organization will have its own capsule and in-game team bundle. Starting next season, teams will be allowed to design their own capsules instead of relying on Riot's common design templates. Notably, the weapon accompanying team bundles will be the Ghost instead of the Classic as before. Although this change is purely cosmetic, it is expected to refresh revenue from capsule sales – a crucial revenue source for organizations. However, the information about reducing the number of partner teams from 40 to 32 also raises many questions about the future of the 8 organizations that lose their slots. According to analysis, these are organizations that may be weaker commercially or in terms of fanbase, while pure competitive criteria may be secondary. Losing partner status means these organizations will face a "revenue cliff" as they no longer receive Riot's revenue-sharing. In 2026, Riot's total distribution to 40 partner organizations was estimated at around $86 million, averaging $2.15 million per team. If this total budget is maintained for 32 teams, each team could receive about $2.69 million, an increase of roughly 25%. However, Riot has not announced specific figures for the 2026 season. Another notable change is that starting in 2027, Stage tournaments will be replaced by Cups. This new structure promises to alter the competitive rhythm, with fewer events but higher density, requiring teams to prepare thoroughly in terms of strategy and stamina. This could also affect how sponsors value participation slots. Additionally, the bye mechanism for partner teams at the Kickoff is a focal point of controversy. The fact that partner teams do not have to participate in open qualifiers means they cannot be eliminated before the main event begins, while open teams must go through a long and risky journey. This creates a two-tier playing field where partner teams have a significant competitive advantage. Analysts predict this will be a hotly debated topic in the VALORANT community, even more so than the money issue. Furthermore, the allocation of the 32 partner slots across the 4 regions has not been announced. If the 8/8/8/8 ratio is maintained, China – a region that joined in 2026 and has modest international results – will continue to maintain parity with other regions. This could become a hot topic in fan discussions, especially in China and the West. Overall, VCT 2026 demonstrates Riot Games' strategy of "narrowing the closed circle, widening the open ladder." The number of partner teams decreases, but outside teams receive stronger financial support. This is seen as a move to balance maintaining stability for top organizations while creating opportunities for young teams, and to avoid the backlash that pure franchising models (like LEC or LCS) are facing. However, cutting 8 partner teams will also create a new wave of transfers. Organizations that lose their slots may have to release or not renew contracts with many players, leading to a surge in free-agent supply during the 2026-2027 transfer window. This could put downward pressure on mid-tier player salaries while increasing the bargaining power of partner teams in contract negotiations. Some experts also worry that reducing the number of partner teams will decrease the number of professional playing positions, estimated at around 40-50 slots (assuming each team has 5-6 main and substitute players). This could make it harder for young talents to break into the professional scene, while non-partner teams face higher financial risks. Nevertheless, the support package of up to $1.1 million for open teams is still a significant amount for mid-tier organizations. However, because this money is disbursed based on performance, open teams still face great pressure regarding competitive results. Meanwhile, partner teams can offer longer and more stable contracts, creating a competitive advantage in attracting talent. Overall, the changes in VCT 2026 reflect Riot Games' efforts to reshape the VALORANT ecosystem toward greater sustainability and fairness. However, the lack of detailed information on regional allocation, partner selection criteria, and the 2027 Cup tournament structure remains major unknowns. The community is waiting for further announcements from Riot in the coming time.