VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1: Key Details on Schedule, Teams, and Format
VCT EMEA Stage 1 marks the return of European and Middle Eastern teams as they battle it out in the first league of the 2026 VALORANT season, with a coveted spot at Masters London and Championship Points on the line.
Riot has organized the competition into two groups, Alpha and Omega, making every match crucial from the get-go. Out of the 12 teams competing, three will earn their way to London later this year. Here’s everything you need to know about VCT EMEA Stage 1, including the schedule, format, and participating teams.
The VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1 runs from April 1 to May 17, 2026. The Group Stage will conclude on May 1, followed by the Playoffs starting on May 7, with the tournament wrapping up on May 17 at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin.
Regular-season matches kick off at 5 PM CEST, while the final two days of the Playoffs will start at 6 PM CEST.
Here’s the complete schedule:
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Friday, April 3, 2026
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Friday, April 17, 2026
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Friday, April 24, 2026
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Friday, May 8, 2026
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Here are the 12 teams competing in VCT EMEA Stage 1:
Teams were assigned to Alpha and Omega based on Kickoff seeds:
| Group Alpha | Group Omega |
|---|---|
| Gentle Mates (Europe) | BBL Esports (Turkey) |
| Team Heretics (Europe) | FNATIC (Europe) |
| FUT Esports (Turkey) | Team Vitality (Europe) |
| Natus Vincere (Europe) | GIANTX (Europe) |
| Karmine Corp (Europe) | Eternal Fire (Turkey) |
| Team Liquid (Europe) | PCIFIC Esports (Turkey) |
| Position | Team | Points | Masters London Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | TBD | +6 | Masters London |
| 2nd | TBD | +4 | Masters London |
| 3rd | FUT Esports | +7 | Masters London |
| 4th | Eternal Fire | +6 | – |
| 5th and 6th | FNATIC | +5 | – |
| 5th and 6th | Gentle Mates | +2 | – |
| 7th and 8th | BBL Esports | +2 | – |
| 7th and 8th | Team Liquid | +4 | – |
| 9th and 10th | Natus Vincere | +2 | – |
| 9th and 10th | GIANTX | +2 | – |
| 11th and 12th | Karmine Corp | – | |
| 11th and 12th | PCIFIC Esports | – |
All matches of EMEA Stage 1 will be streamed on official channels on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok for the main broadcasts.
There will also be separate streams available in other languages, which you can find below:
| Broadcast Language | Broadcast Links |
|---|---|
| France | |
| Spain | |
| Turkey |
Meanwhile, teams from the Americas, China, and the Pacific will return to their regions for a chance at VCT Masters London later this year.
