The first international tournament in the 2026 Valorant Champions Tour calendar has arrived. VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 is a prestigious global event organized by Riot Games at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile, from February 28 to March 15, 2026.

This tournament not only features champion teams from regional Kickoff events, but also serves as an early milestone in the race toward the 2026 competitive season title. A total of 12 top teams from four major regions — Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China — will compete for the Masters trophy and valuable championship points on the road to VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai.

Tournament Schedule

Masters Santiago will run for 16 days of main competition, divided into two key stages: the Swiss Stage and the Playoffs.

Main Schedule

Swiss Stage: February 28 – March 4, 2026

• All matches will be played in a Best-of-Three (Bo3) format.

Playoffs: March 6 – March 15, 2026

• Double-elimination bracket format.

• Most matches remain Bo3, while the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final will be played as Best-of-Five (Bo5) to determine the champion.

As the highlight of the early season, the tournament will be broadcast live on Riot’s official platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok, allowing fans worldwide to witness the action.

Competition Format

Masters Santiago 2026 uses a competitive structure designed to ensure high-intensity matches at every stage.

Swiss Stage

• 8 teams compete using a Swiss System format.

• Participants consist of the second- and third-place teams from each region’s Kickoff tournament.

• Teams are not eliminated immediately; they must secure 2 wins to advance or suffer 2 losses to be eliminated.

Playoffs

• 8 teams in total:

  • 4 top seeds (regional Kickoff champions who automatically qualify for Playoffs).

  • 4 best-performing teams from the Swiss Stage.

• The double-elimination system gives teams a second chance through the lower bracket before reaching the final.

• Most matches are Bo3, except for the title-deciding matches, which are played in Bo5 format.

Participating Teams

A total of 12 teams from four major regions qualified for Masters Santiago through their respective Kickoff tournaments. Each region sends three representatives: the Kickoff champion advances directly to Playoffs, while the 2nd- and 3rd-place teams begin in the Swiss Stage.

Americas

• FURIA

• G2 Esports

• NRG

EMEA

• BBL Esports

• Gentle Mates

• Team Liquid

Pacific

• Nongshim RedForce

• T1

• Paper Rex

China

• All Gamers

• Xi Lai Gaming

• EDward Gaming

The four top-seeded Kickoff champions — FURIA, BBL Esports, Nongshim RedForce, and All Gamers — will advance directly to the Playoffs as high seeds, while the remaining eight teams will begin their journey in the Swiss Stage.

VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 is more than just a tournament; it is a crucial stepping stone in the global competitive cycle of Valorant. From the intense Swiss Stage battles to the decisive clashes in the Playoffs, every team will fight for points, prestige, and momentum for the long season ahead.

For fans, this event showcases elite strategies, thrilling clutch plays, and unexpected storylines from teams bringing their unique styles to the international stage. All eyes are now on Santiago — who will emerge as champion and make history in VCT 2026?

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