Riot Games has officially confirmed that VALORANT Champions 2026, the premier global tournament for its tactical shooter, will be hosted in Shanghai, China, marking the first time the VALORANT World Championship lands in the country.
The announcement was made via the Riot Games' official VALORANT China social media account, signaling a return to a familiar city that previously hosted VCT Masters Shanghai 2024 at the iconic Mercedes-Benz Arena. While exact details regarding the venue and schedule are still under wraps, the decision represents a major milestone for China’s growing VALORANT scene.
A Growing Legacy of Global Hosts
Since the launch of Champions in 2021, the event has rotated annually across international venues: Berlin (2021), Istanbul (2022), Los Angeles (2023), Seoul (2024), and this year’s upcoming edition in Paris (2025). Champions 2026 will mark China’s debut as host for VALORANT’s biggest tournament of the year.
Riot Games also recently revealed that Champions 2027 is slated to return to the Americas, though the specific host country has yet to be announced.
The return to Shanghai follows the overwhelming success of Masters Shanghai 2024, which featured sold-out crowds, record-breaking viewership, and an electric atmosphere throughout the tournament.
“After the incredible success of Masters Shanghai 2024 with a packed Mercedes-Benz Arena, record-breaking viewership, and a city bursting with energy, we knew we had to come back,” Riot Games shared in its official post.
The publisher also emphasized Shanghai’s readiness to host top-tier events, citing the enthusiasm of Chinese fans and the emergence of local talent.
“That event proved what we had always believed: Shanghai is not just ready, it has what it takes to host the biggest annual event in the VCT calendar… Champions 2026 will deliver the highest level of VALORANT competition while once again spotlighting the passion of VCT CN’s home crowd. These are the fans who rallied behind hometown heroes like Edward Gaming, Wolves, and other rising teams,” Riot added.
Much like previous Riot-run events in China, Champions 2026 will extend beyond the competition itself. Riot confirmed plans for city-wide activations and experiences across Shanghai, continuing a recent trend of immersive fan engagement efforts used during events like MSI 2024.
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