Riot Games is preparing a major change to the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) for 2027, introducing a new two-year partnership cycle and reducing the number of partnered organizations from 40 to 32. The revised structure will feature eight partner teams in each of the four regions: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China.
The new format will retain the partnership system while creating more opportunities for non-partnered organizations to compete. Partner teams will receive direct invitations to VCT Kickoff, but organizations without partnership status can still qualify through Open Qualifiers.
In the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific regions, Kickoff is expected to feature 12 teams, including eight partners and four Open Qualifier winners. China will follow a slightly different format, with eight partner teams, two visitor teams, and two Open Qualifier representatives.
Although the new structure establishes a clearer path into the international circuit, not every organization that previously held a partnership slot will remain in the system.
All VCT 2027 Partner Teams by Region
Riot Games has not yet published a complete official list of all 32 partner organizations. The teams below reflect the names currently reported or confirmed, and the roster may change as further announcements are made.
VCT Americas Partner Teams
The Americas region is expected to retain a mix of North American, Brazilian, and Latin American organizations.
- 100 Thieves
- G2 Esports
- KRU Esports
- Leviatán
- LOUD
- MIBR
- NRG
- Sentinels
Several of these organizations have established histories in the VCT partnership system. Sentinels, LOUD, and Leviatán have all played prominent roles in the region, while the new cycle will give the eight selected organizations direct entry into Kickoff.
VCT EMEA Partner Teams
The confirmed picture for EMEA remains incomplete, with three organizations currently associated with partnership status for the 2027 season.
- BBL Esports
- Fnatic
- Team Heretics
Fnatic is one of the region’s most recognizable names, while BBL Esports and Team Heretics have also become familiar competitors in the EMEA circuit. Additional organizations may be announced as Riot Games and the teams reveal more details about the upcoming season.
VCT Pacific Partner Teams
Pacific’s reported partner lineup features organizations from across the region, including established international competitors.
- Crazy Raccoon
- Full Sense
- Paper Rex
- Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ)
- T1
Paper Rex and T1 have attracted considerable attention through their international performances, while RRQ represents Indonesia in the regional lineup.
One of the notable changes is the absence of DRX from the reported partner group. The organization has confirmed that it will not hold a partner slot for the 2027 season, marking a significant change for a team long associated with Pacific VALORANT.
VCT China Partner Teams
China’s reported lineup includes eight organizations, although the complete list has not yet been officially confirmed by Riot Games.
- All Gamers
- Bilibili Gaming
- EDward Gaming
- JD Gaming
- Trace Esports
- TYLOO
- Weibo Gaming
- Xi Lai Gaming
The reported changes also leave several familiar Chinese organizations outside the new partner group. FunPlus Phoenix, Nova Esports, Titan Esports Club, and Wolves Esports are among the teams reported to have lost their partnership status.
Teams Missing Out on VCT 2027 Partnership
The reduction from 40 partner organizations to 32 means several teams will no longer have the same direct access to the VCT circuit. A number of organizations have also publicly indicated that they will not be partnered for 2027.
EMEA
- Movistar KOI
- Barça eSports
- GIANTX
Pacific
- S8UL Esports
- Global Esports
- Nongshim RedForce
- KIWOOM DRX
- BOOM Esports
- DetonatioN FocusMe
China
- FunPlus Phoenix
- Wolves Esports
- Titan Esports Club
- Nova Esports
- Dragon Ranger Gaming
The new format does not necessarily end these organizations’ chances of competing in the VCT. Open Qualifiers will provide non-partnered teams with an opportunity to reach Kickoff, although qualification will depend on their results in the relevant regional competitions.
How Open Qualifiers Will Work in VCT 2027
One of the most important features of the new structure is the continued route for teams outside the partnership program.
In the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific, four teams from Open Qualifiers are expected to join the eight partner organizations at Kickoff. This creates a 12-team opening event in each of those regions.
China will use a different structure, with two Open Qualifier teams joining eight partner organizations and two visitor teams to complete its expected 12-team Kickoff lineup.
The system preserves the advantages of partnership while allowing other organizations to compete for places in the regional circuit. However, earning a Kickoff spot does not automatically guarantee a full season at the highest level.
VCT 2027 Partnership Format and Qualification Explained
The VCT 2027 partnership system is expected to feature 32 organizations, with eight teams in each of the four regions: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China. Riot Games has yet to publish the complete official partner list, meaning some of the reported lineups remain subject to change. Non-partnered teams will still have opportunities to enter the competition through Open Qualifiers, with four qualifying spots expected in the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific regions and two in China. The new two-year partnership cycle is scheduled to begin with the 2027 season, following the conclusion of the 2026 VCT campaign.
What the VCT 2027 Changes Mean for VALORANT Esports
The 2027 restructuring represents a significant adjustment to the VALORANT competitive ecosystem. By reducing the number of partner organizations while retaining Open Qualifiers, Riot Games is maintaining a core partnership system alongside opportunities for emerging and established teams outside it.
The final regional lineups will determine which organizations receive direct access to Kickoff and which must fight their way into the competition. With several familiar names missing from the reported lists, the next partnership cycle could bring a noticeably different landscape to VALORANT esports.
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