On Saturday, Aug 30, Riot Games revealed a series of changes for the upcoming VCT EMEA Ascension tournament. The most notable adjustment is the expansion of the tournament from six to eight teams — while still only awarding two coveted spots in EMEA's tier 1 ecosystem for the 2026 season. The event will be held offline in Berlin, hosted at the VCT EMEA and LEC studios, from Oct 18 to Oct 26; one day longer than initially announced.
Alongside these announcements, Riot Games confirmed that the format itself will change to accommodate the new teams. Instead of a double elimination bracket, the eight qualified clubs will now be divided into a pair of seeded GSL-style groups. These groups will eventually lead to two decisive best-of-five matches that will determine which organizations secure their place in the VCT EMEA 2026. Importantly, these final qualification matches will be played on stage in front of a live audience, bringing added tension and excitement.
The timing of this news is particularly striking, coming just two days before the start of Challengers EMEA Stage 3. With
Gentle Mates and Apeks relegated after a very difficult 2025 season, two new teams are now set to chase the dream of reaching the top league. While this format will likely remain in place for the 2026 season, Riot Games has already hinted at even greater adjustments for 2027, with the potential end of the current system that separates partnered organizations from those that originally advanced through the
Ascension tournament.
In addition to these changes, Riot Games also shared new details about Project Blender, an offseason competition designed to bring together teams from Challengers, Game Changers, and the
VALORANT Champions Tour. Among the highlights, Riot confirmed that the Blender Spotlight will take place on November 3 and 4. This mixed-format event, featuring a €10,000 winner-takes-all prize pool, will grant the victorious roster direct qualification into Phase III, while the runner-up and the third-place team will advance to Phase II.
For a complete overview of the structure, phases, and the philosophy behind Project Blender,
Sheep Esports provided
a detailed recap in a July 31 article following Riot’s first announcement. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Riot confirmed that the project will conclude with a LAN finals in Paris on Dec 13 and 14, where the four best remaining teams will clash for the crown of this next-generation competition.
