With VALORANT esports set for major changes in 2027, Seoul has been selected as the host city for the first Masters following the revamp.
Riot Games unveiled key updates to the 2027 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) overhaul alongside the host cities for the year. The first Masters of 2027 will take place in Seoul from Saturday, February 20, to Wednesday, March 3.
At the core of the 2027 VCT overhaul is a massive expansion in host locations. More than 50 tournaments will be held across 15 cities worldwide, significantly increasing the scale compared to the 2025 and 2026 seasons. While the existing Kickoff format remains, Stage 1 and Stage 2 will be replaced by two regional "Cups". In addition, "Open Qualifiers" will be newly introduced across 16 global regions to allow new teams and players to compete for VCT spots.
The host cities for each tournament will also be diversified. Kickoff, which marks the start of the season, will take place in Bangkok (Pacific), São Paulo (Americas), Berlin (EMEA), and Hangzhou (CN). The first Cup will then be held in Manila (Pacific), Mexico City (Americas), Warsaw (EMEA), and Wuhan (CN). The second Cup will move to Tokyo (Pacific), Rio de Janeiro (Americas), Istanbul (EMEA), and Shanghai (CN).
Host cities for the global events—Masters and Champions—have also been confirmed. Notably, the fact that the first Masters under the revamped 2027 VCT system will be held in Seoul has drawn keen attention. This marks the first international VALORANT tournament in Korea in approximately three years, following Champions 2024. Specific details for Masters Seoul, including venues and detailed schedules, will be announced at a later date.
Following Seoul, the second Masters will take place in Valencia, Spain, in June. While Spain previously hosted Masters Madrid in 2024, this marks the first time Valencia has been selected as a VCT host city.
Champions, the pinnacle global tournament that concludes the season, will be held in Austin, Texas, USA. The event will run from Thursday, September 16, to Sunday, October 10. Champions Austin will also feature the Game Changers Championship, an international tournament for women and marginalized genders, running alongside the main event.
With Seoul selected for the first Masters, a Riot Games official stated, "We are thrilled to announce that the first Masters of the revamped 2027 VCT will take place in Seoul. Seoul has long been a hub for VCT Pacific, drawing intense fan enthusiasm, and successfully hosted Champions Seoul in 2024. As the world's best teams gather in Seoul again after about three years, we will strive to deliver an exceptional live venue experience for fans." Meanwhile, VALORANT is currently hosting VCT Champions, the final event of this year's Champions Tour, through the 18th.
