Riot Games have shared details about the format of VCT EMEA Clash 2026 — a new mid-season VALORANT tournament. It will be the first official competition to feature teams from both the VCT and regional leagues.
The championship will take place from February 19 to February 25 and will feature 12 teams: 6 from VCT EMEA and 6 from the Challengers EMEA regional leagues.
The tournament will use a system of two parallel but interconnected double-elimination brackets inspired by the “Alpha/Omega” theme. If a team loses in the upper bracket of the Alpha group, it drops to the lower bracket of the Omega group. Conversely, a loss in the upper bracket of the Omega group sends a team to the lower bracket of the Alpha group.
The four best teams from the VCT EMEA Kickoff (among those that did not qualify for Masters) will receive direct spots in the second round of the bracket. The remaining 8 teams (2 from VCT and 6 from Challengers) will be randomly distributed, with the two VCT teams guaranteed to be placed in different brackets.
As a reminder, Lil Wayne will perform in the game Clash Royale.