The 2025 Ascension tournaments across the four VCT regions concluded on Sunday, with the one in the Americas, and all the teams that will participate in the 2026 VALORANT elite are now set. Some have renewed their qualifications for the highest leagues of Riot's FPS, others have failed to return, and still others will be making their debut. It's time for a recap around the world to see which new teams will be taking part in the competition.

VCT EMEA: Turkey imposes its dominance

In EMEA, the region will welcome two new teams next year. As a reminder, GentleMates and Apeks could not participate in the Ascension after their insufficient results throughout the year. From then on, two new teams would be entering VCT. These are two Turkish teams that have taken the two spots with ULF Esports and BBL PCIFIC.

Both teams showed great dominance throughout the tournament and even during the year. BBL PCIFIC had won Stage 1 of the EMEA Challengers and reached the final of Stage 2, while ULF Esports had won Stage 3. The two teams gave no chance to DNSTY (3-1) and Mandatory (3-0) respectively and secured their ticket for the 2026 VCT.

VCT Pacific: Nongshim stays, Boom leaves

By reaching the playoffs of Stage 2, Nongshim RedForce earned the right to participate in their region's Ascension tournament. In the top 8 of championship points, Boom Esports could also put their place back in the game. Boom owed this ranking in particular to a strong performance in Stage 1, finishing first in a group with PaperRex, Gen.G, and DRX.

The two teams faced off in the lower bracket final for a final spot in VCT, and the clash turned in favor of Nongshim RedForce. By winning 3-1, NS retains its place in VCT. Earlier in the tournament, a fifth Korean team secured its place in the top league: SLT finished first in their group and didn't concede a loss in the playoffs, notably inflicting a 3-0 on Boom Esports to qualify.

VCT Americas: Envy triumphs over TSM

With G2 Esports qualified for Champions, only one spot for VCT was in contention. 2GAME Esports failed to keep their spot or participate in the competition. A new team was therefore going to join the VCT Americas. Fans were expecting a duel between two teams that dominated the Challengers North America. Envy, winner of Stage 2, and TSM, winner of Stage 3.

The two teams faced each other three times during this tournament. In the Group Stage, TSM won the first encounter. But in the final stage, Envy won both of their face-offs, including the ultimate one that allowed them to advance to VCT Americas.

VCT China: No new face in 2026

XLG Esports had already secured their spot for the VCT by placing higher than Dragon Ranger Gaming at the Champions 2025. Despite their participation in the biggest competition, DRG had to put their place back on the line for the VCT 2026. Facing them was Rare Atom, who had dominated Tier 2 of the Chinese scene and had not conceded a defeat during the Ascension before meeting DRG in the final.

Dragon Ranger Gaming gave themselves a scare by being knocked into the lower bracket by Any Questions Gaming and almost being reverse swept by the same team. In the final, DRG inflicted a resounding 3-0 defeat on Rare Atom, notably with a 13-1 in the final. China is therefore the only region where no new teams will enter the VCT in 2026.

In total, four changes to note for the year 2026. Only two teams threatened by relegation managed to save their place. It remains to be seen which path these teams will take next year and whether they will manage to stay in the top leagues or not.