Riot Games released new details on Valorant EMEA Clash 2026, a Valorant competition for Europe that brings together tier one and two teams for a chance to lock down a spot at Masters Santiago later this.
Operated in conjunction with MENA tournament operator Vanguard, the Valorant EMEA Clash 2026 brings six teams from Valorant Champions Tour EMEA (VCT EMEA) and another six team from EMEA Challengers together for a 12-team gauntlet to determine “the Alpha Champion and the Omega Champion.” This will be determined by the results of two simultaneous double-elimination brackets where two separate winners will be crowned.
It should be noted that Valorant EMEA appears to exclude the three teams from VCT EMEA that have already secured spots for Masters Santiago via the Kickoff tournament and the three worst-performing teams from the region, though Riot was rather vague in its announcement on how teams were selected.
The “VCT Elite,” or the top four teams from VCT EMEA Kickoff earn a “bye” directly into round two, while the Challenger Pool, or the remaining two VCT EMEA teams and the six Challengers teams (eight total), will be placed into a randomized draw.
Riot promises a unique format for Valorant EMEA Clash 2026, explained in this way:
Starting in round two, if a team loses in the Upper Bracket of Alpha, they don’t just drop down, they are cast across dimensions into the Lower Bracket of Omega. The same applies to those in Omega falling into Alpha.
Valorant EMEA Clash 2026 will take place across multiple dates: Feb. 29 – 22, and Feb 24 – 25. Fans can watch the competitions on the official VCT EMEA YouTube and Twitch channels.