The 2026 VCT Pacific Kickoff is set to open later this month, offering fans an early look at how teams in the Pacific region may stack up ahead of the new VALORANT competitive season.

Riot Games, developer and publisher of the 5v5 tactical shooter VALORANT, announced that the event will begin Thursday the 22nd at the SOOP Sangam Coliseum in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The tournament will run for roughly three weeks, concluding on Feb. 15, with 12 teams competing for early-season momentum and international qualification. Tickets for in-person attendance will go on sale Friday the 9th through NOL Ticket, with global access available via NOL World.

VCT Pacific is one of four international leagues in the VALORANT Champions Tour ecosystem, alongside Americas, EMEA and CN. These leagues act as qualifiers for global competitions, including Masters and Champions, making the Kickoff event a key checkpoint for teams aiming to reach the international stage. The top three finishers in Seoul will earn spots at Masters Santiago, scheduled for March in Santiago, Chile.

An Opportunity to Predict the Strength of 12 Teams for the 2026 Season

This year’s Kickoff will feature a triple-elimination format, meaning teams are only knocked out after three losses. Organizers say the structure is designed to create a longer, more competitive opening phase while allowing squads additional chances to adapt and show consistency. Matches will be spread across three weeks, setting the tone for the Pacific region’s 2026 campaign.

Two newly promoted teams, Nongshim RedForce and VARREL, will make their VCT Pacific debut after earning promotion through the 2025 Ascension tournament. Meanwhile, four teams that qualified for the 2025 Champions—Paper Rex, Rex Regum Qeon, T1 and DRX—will receive byes into Round 2 of the upper bracket. The remaining teams will be placed into Round 1 through a random draw.

All matches will be played at the SOOP Sangam Coliseum, which also hosted VCT Pacific competition in 2025. Fans unable to attend in person can watch live broadcasts on SOOP’s official VALORANT channel, Chzzk (VALORANT Korea), and YouTube via VCT KR. Additional schedule details and updates are available on the official VALORANT Esports website.