VCT EMEA Kickoff 2026 Announced with a Breakdown of Format, Schedule and Teams
Riot Games drops full details for VCT EMEA 2026 Kickoff, where 12 teams battle in a groundbreaking triple elimination bracket from January 20 to February 12 at Berlin’s Riot Games Arena, vying for three Masters Santiago spots and crucial championship points in the season opener.
VCT EMEA Format
Ditching double elimination, the new format hands every squad three lives. Upper Bracket for the undefeated haven, Middle Bracket for one loss teams, and Lower Bracket where two losses mean a third spells doom.
The Upper, Middle, and Lower Bracket winners advance to three Grand Finals to claim Masters berths, where it will be all best of three except the BO5 Finals.
Championship points are also on the line: 4 for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, and 1 for 4th.
Opening Round 1 Draw Revealed
2025 champs reps Fnatic, Team Liquid, GIANTX, and Team Heretics that earn Upper Bracket round 2 byes.
Day 1 begins with NAVI vs Karmine Corp, FUT Esports vs Gentle Mates, PCIFIC Esports vs BBL Esports, and ULF Esports vs Team Vitality.
VCT EMEA Schedule
The event spans weeks 1-3 with Tuesday-Friday matches, which then moves to Thursday-Sunday in Week 4.
Start times (BST): Thursdays/Sundays at 5 PM, Fridays/Saturdays at 1 PM.
Week 4 features bracket clearing BO3s Thursday-Saturday, culminating in Triple Finals on Sunday.
VCT EMEA Teams
Out of the 12 teams competing in VCT EMEA 2026 Kickoff, 10 are Partner Teams. ULF Esports and PCIFIC Esports secured their year-long league spots by winning at VCT EMEA Ascension earlier this year.
Here is the list of the full 12 teams participating:
- BBL Esports
- Fnatic
- FUT Esports
- Gentle Mates (Riot pick post-KOI exit)
- GIANTX
- Karmine Corp
- NAVI
- PCIFIC Esports (Ascension winner)
- Team Heretics
- Team Liquid
- Team Vitality
- ULF Esports (Ascension winner)
Since: October 29, 2025
