Riot Games has recently stacked up its plans for the VALORANT Champions 2026 and it will take place in Shanghai, China. The news was the official VALORANT China account and refers to a comeback to a city that previously hosted quite a spectacular VCT Masters in 2024 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Even though the venue and dates are not yet announced, people are excited.
A Historic First for China
It’s a historic moment as Shanghai will host the VALORANT World Championship. This will be the first time China will be doing so. Global cities such as Berlin, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Seoul and Paris have hosted the event. Teams from the VALORANT Regional Leagues will descend upon Les Arènes and the Accor Arena for the 2025 Champions tournament, where they will battle for the VCT 2025 title.
Riot Games hinted that the 2027 VCT, which is a high-profile tournament, will be hosted in the Americas but did not reveal details about the country.
China’s Growing Presence in Esports
When looking back on Masters Shanghai 2024, Riot Games commented on the success, noting the sold-out Mercedes-Benz Arena and record viewership. The post praised Shanghai’s electric atmosphere and said it proved that China was ready to host the premier event in the VALORANT competitive circuit.
China has a lot of gamers who play games competitively. Therefore it is an important area for live games. Besides, its gaming stature is further solidified by the hosting of the 2025 League of Legends World Championship at several outlets in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu. The event will feature activations around Shanghai, as was the case at previous tournaments like the Mid-Season Invitational, Riot Games stresses.
Riot Games says that the 2026 Champions event will exceed expectations, featuring elite VALORANT gameplay while tapping into local fan fervor. The event will engender excitement from passionate supporters rallied behind famous clubs, including Edward Gaming and Wolves.