Riot Games has unveiled the participating teams, tournament structure and match schedule for Masters Santiago, the first international event of the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT).

The competition will take place at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile, running from March 1st to March 16th. Twelve teams from the Pacific, Americas, EMEA and China (CN) leagues will compete for the title, with the Grand Final scheduled for March 16th.

Among the qualified teams are Nongshim RedForce, T1 and Paper Rex, which secured their places through the kickoff events of their respective international leagues.

Tournament format

Masters Santiago will be split into two phases: the Swiss Stage and the Playoffs.

The Swiss Stage, held between March 1st and March 5th, will feature eight teams that earned second and third seeds from the international league kickoffs. All matches will follow a best-of-three format. Only four teams will advance, with qualification requiring two match victories across a maximum of three rounds.

T1 and Paper Rex will begin their campaigns in this stage after qualifying through the VCT Pacific Kickoff.

Playoffs and Champions Points

Teams advancing from the Swiss Stage will join four directly qualified squads in the Playoffs: Nongshim RedForce, FURIA, BBL Esports and All Gamers.

The Playoffs will adopt a double-elimination bracket. Each victory will award Champions Points, which contribute to qualification for Champions Shanghai later in the season.

As Champions Points determine eligibility for the September world championship event, early-season tournaments such as Masters Santiago carry significant competitive importance.

In-game activations

According to the announcement, Riot Games will run a limited-time ‘God of Match’ in-game event throughout Masters Santiago. Players will be able to make match predictions to unlock cosmetic rewards, including weapon decorations and sprays tied to the tournament.

Broadcast details

Masters Santiago will be livestreamed via VALORANT’s official channels across platforms including YouTube, Chijijik and SOOP. Additional tournament updates, schedules and results will be shared through VALORANT Esports’ official website and social media accounts.

Masters Santiago marks the first international LAN event of the 2026 VCT calendar, setting the tone for a season that will culminate in Champions Shanghai.