Riot Discontinue VALORANT Challengers Oceania for 2026
Riot Games has officially discontinued the Valorant Challengers Oceania circuit starting in 2026, citing unsustainable operational costs amid stagnant viewership and player participation. The move leaves aspiring pros in Australia and New Zealand scrambling for new routes to the VCT Pacific stage, shifting focus entirely to the in game Premier ladder.
Operational Demands Outweigh Growth
Launched to foster a sustainable local ecosystem, Challengers Oceania fell short of expectations. “The demands of operating the league have outweighed the actual level of interest in terms of viewership and player participation,” Riot stated in their announcement.
Despite heavy investments since VALORANT’s competitive debut, the tier two league proved financially unviable, prompting the immediate sunset for next year.
Premier Becomes the Sole Path to Pro
Oceanic talent now funnels exclusively through Premier. Top teams from 2026 acts will vie in a regional qualifier, with the winner advancing to the Challengers Pacific Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). The LCQ victor secures one of four spots in VCT Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs, alongside top squads from SEA, Japan, and Korea.
To bridge the transition, leading Premier teams from 2025’s final three acts earn direct entry into the Invite Division for VCT 2026 Act 1, competing for crucial points.
This replaces the former Ascension promotion, narrowing opportunities to a single high stakes playoff.
Game Changers and Grassroots Thrive
VCT Game Changers Oceania remains untouched, set to continue in 2026 with its stronger engagement metrics intact. Riot also pledges improved support for grassroots and community tournaments, where interest continues to grow.
Teams like BONKERS and others must now grind Premier ladders without Challengers structure, testing their resolve ahead of the 2026 VCT season kickoff on January 15.
Since: October 29, 2025
