NAVI will not compete as a partnered organisation in the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) in 2027, ending a four-year run in the game’s top-tier international circuit.
The Ukrainian esports organisation confirmed the decision in a statement posted to its channels. According to the announcement, NAVI invested heavily in its VALORANT division with the aim of competing for international titles and building a lasting presence in the scene. It said it was proud of the work done, but acknowledged that its recent competitive results had fallen short of expectations.
Partnered teams hold a guaranteed place in one of Riot Games’ three international leagues and receive a share of league revenue, rather than having to earn their slot each season. NAVI held one of those places in VCT EMEA, the league covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa, from the franchised system’s first year in 2023 through to the 2026 campaign.
NAVI Junior takes over the VALORANT project
NAVI said its attention would now move to NAVI Junior, a roster built through the academy project it launched earlier this year. The organisation added that it would keep giving those players the resources and match experience needed to develop and compete.
NAVI Junior is set to appear at Project Blender 2026: Phase 2 and in the VCT EMEA Kickoff Qualifiers. The senior side played in Project Blender 2025 during December, finishing fifth to eighth in Phase 4 and fifth to tenth in Phase 3. Without a partner slot, any route back into VCT EMEA for the organisation now runs through open competition rather than an invitation.
Four years in VCT EMEA
NAVI’s strongest season came in its first year in the league. In 2023 it finished fourth in the VCT 2023: EMEA League for $25,000, placed third to fourth at VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo for $40,000, and reached both VALORANT Masters Tokyo 2023 and VALORANT Champions 2023, taking $15,000 and $30,000 from those events.
Results tailed off from there. The team managed third to fourth at the 2024 Kickoff and fourth at VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 2, worth another $25,000, but otherwise spent the following seasons in the lower half of the standings. It also missed out on the Esports World Cup in consecutive years, finishing fifth in the 2025 EMEA Qualifier and fourth in the 2026 edition.
The 2026 season proved the toughest of the four. NAVI went out in seventh to eighth at the Kickoff, finished ninth to tenth at Stage 1 and then placed 13th to 16th at Stage 2 in August, its lowest finish in the league.
The statement closed with thanks to the organisation’s players, staff and fans for the past four years. NAVI said that while its VCT partnership was coming to an end, its VALORANT journey would continue.
