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VCT 2026 Stage 1 is officially underway, and the competition is already heating up across all four international leagues. After NS RedForce's stunning title run at Masters Santiago, every team is hungry to prove they belong on the Masters London stage. With VCT Americas kicking off on April 10, the full picture of Stage 1 is finally coming together.
Here is your complete breakdown of VCT 2026 Stage 1: groups, schedules, venues, and the teams you absolutely need to watch.
VCT Americas Stage 1 officially begins on April 10, 2026, with twelve teams competing across two groups in Los Angeles. The stage runs through May 24, with Playoffs Premier starting April 26. To qualify for the Playoff stage, teams need a Premier Score of 500 or higher — every group stage match counts.
Opening day matchups on April 10:
The team everyone is talking about is MIBR — the new Americas superteam, widely considered the favorites heading into Group Alpha alongside Sentinels and Leviatán. In Group Omega, FURIA and NRG arrive with fresh momentum from Masters Santiago, making every match a potential upset waiting to happen.
One agent storyline to watch: Miks (Agent 30), available since patch 12.05, enters the competitive VCT pool for the first time this stage. How Americas teams integrate this new addition into their compositions could define the meta going forward.
Ready to compete while the pros battle it out? Join a Valorant competitive ladder on Amber.gg and put your skills on the line.
VCT 2026 is built around four international leagues: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China. Each league runs a Stage 1 before funneling top performers into Masters London.
The format inside each league is straightforward. Twelve teams are split into two groups of six, Group Alpha and Group Omega. Each group plays a single round-robin, with all matches played as best-of-three. From there, the top teams advance into a double-elimination playoff bracket, and the top 3 finishers from each league earn direct qualification to Masters London.
Championship points are also on the line: first place earns 6 points, second earns 4, and third earns 3, plus 1 point for each group stage win. Every match matters 🎯.
Dates: April 1 to May 17, 2026 Venue: Riot Games Arena, Berlin, Germany
EMEA is one of the most stacked regions in the world right now, and Stage 1 in Berlin is set to be an absolute brawl.
Source: Riot Games
EMEA opens with a bang. The first three days of competition set the tone for the entire group stage:
April 1
April 2
April 3
The opening match between Fnatic and Eternal Fire on April 1 at 11:00 AM is the one to watch. It is the first real test for the newly formed Eternal Fire roster, and Fnatic will be hungry to make a statement from day one. Group stage rounds wrap up May 1, with playoffs running May 7 to 17.
One of the biggest stories heading into EMEA Stage 1 is the removal of ULF Esports from the league. Riot Games announced on March 20, 2026 that ULF Esports had been withdrawn from the league, with Eternal Fire stepping in to take their slot. The entire ULF roster, including players echo, nekky, audaz, and Favian, transitioned over to Eternal Fire. It is a dramatic entrance, and all eyes will be on them in Group Omega.
Group Alpha brings together Gentle Mates, Karmine Corp, Team Liquid, Team Heretics, Natus Vincere, and FUT Esports. Group Omega is arguably the hardest bracket in all of EMEA. Fnatic, GIANTX, and Team Vitality in the same group? Someone big is going home early 📉.
Week 1 is done, and EMEA already has its early narrative locked in.
Here are the results from the opening matches:
Fnatic and Team Liquid look like the class of the region so far. Fnatic edged past a shaky Eternal Fire in three maps, confirming they are the Group Omega favorite to beat. Liquid were clinical against Karmine Corp, dropping zero maps and looking every bit the tournament contenders they were built to be.
The concern is GiantX. A 0-2 defeat to Vitality in their opener is a rough start for a team many expected to compete for a top-3 spot in Group Omega. They need a response fast, or their path to playoffs gets complicated quickly.
Dates: April 10 to May 24, 2026 Venue: Riot Games Arena, Los Angeles, United States
Americas has never looked this competitive. Group Alpha is full of firepower: G2 looking to reclaim relevance, LOUD carrying the weight of Brazilian expectations, and ENVY out to prove they belong in this league.
Group Omega reads like a who-is-who of North American Valorant. FURIA, NRG, Sentinels, and 100 Thieves in the same group is genuinely chaotic. Only three of those teams advance, which means two of the most recognisable rosters in the world will be fighting for survival every single week.
If you are looking for a reason to care about competitive Valorant right now, the Americas bracket is it. Love the chaos? You can already test your own Valorant skills in ranked ladders on Amber.gg while you wait for the action to kick off.
Fnatic (EMEA): One of the most consistent EMEA organisations in VCT history. After a difficult 2026 season kickoff, Fnatic needs Stage 1 to remind the world why they are still a threat. They have the infrastructure, the talent, and the will. Expect them to push deep into the EMEA playoffs.
Team Liquid (EMEA): Sitting in a tough Group Alpha alongside Gentle Mates and Karmine Corp, Liquid will be tested immediately. Their recent form has been solid, and a strong group stage showing could set them up for a deep playoff run heading into Berlin.
FURIA (Americas): Brazil is always hungry, and FURIA always shows up when it counts. Dropped into Omega with NRG and Sentinels, they have no easy matches. Still, FURIA playing with their backs against the wall is when they are at their most dangerous 🔥.
G2 Esports (Americas): G2 has the name, the brand, and the resources. Stage 1 is their chance to turn promise into results. A strong showing in Group Alpha could re-establish G2 as a true Masters London contender.
VCT Masters London will bring together the best teams from all four international leagues. The top 3 teams from each Stage 1 playoff earn direct qualification.
Getting to London is not just about pride. Championship points accumulated across the season determine seeding for Champions 2026, the biggest Valorant event of the year. Teams that perform consistently in Stage 1 and Stage 2 give themselves the best path to Champions.
The season narrative is already set: NS RedForce proved at Masters Santiago that no region has a lock on the top spot. Every team in EMEA and Americas knows what is possible, and Stage 1 is where the journey to London begins.
With Valorant's big Act 2 Season 26 changes also fresh in the meta, expect plenty of surprises as teams adapt their compositions on the fly. Check the current meta ranked guide to see which agents are dominating this patch before the matches kick off.
VCT Masters London is the first international LAN of 2026. The event brings together 12 teams from all four international leagues: EMEA, Americas, Pacific, and China. Tickets went on sale on March 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM GMT. If you plan to attend in person, secure your spot now.
Qualification is consistent across all regions: the top 3 finishers from each Stage 1 playoff earn a direct spot in London. That means every match happening right now in Berlin and Los Angeles is directly deciding who competes on the biggest stage of the first half of the year. Exact dates for Masters London are still to be confirmed.
Beyond the trophy, London matters for ranked play. International LANs are where top teams pressure-test their compositions at the highest level, and those compositions reliably filter into high-elo solo queue within weeks. The agents and setups dominating the London stage will define what you face climbing through Act 2.
Ready to compete while the pros play for glory? Valorant ladders on Amber.gg let you put real money on your performance.
Americas kicks off on April 10 at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles. Three opening days set the tone for the entire group stage:
April 10
April 11
April 12
G2 vs MIBR is the match everyone is circling. MIBR enter as the Americas favorites and G2 will need a statement win to prove they belong at the top of Group Alpha. Day two's ENVY vs LOUD clash puts two high-energy rosters head-to-head right out of the gate. Cloud9 vs Leviatán on April 12 closes out opening week with a cross-group showdown that could define early standings on both sides. Playoffs run May 14 to 25.
Both EMEA and Americas matches will be broadcast on the official Valorant Champions Tour Twitch and YouTube channels. EMEA kicks off April 1 in Berlin, Americas follows on April 10 in Los Angeles. Mark your calendars.
Want to compete while you watch? Join a Valorant competitive ladder on Amber.gg and put your own ranked skills to the test. Real entry fees, real prize pools, real competition.
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