The 2026 VCT season came to a close with
LOUD’s victory at
VALORANT Champions Shanghai. This conclusion also marked the end of the partnership programme’s first era and the beginning of its second. Starting next season, 32 teams will hold partner status, down from the 40 that competed under the programme in previous years.
Since Monday, October 19, Sheep Esports has reported on every team expected to join the partner programme, according to sources close to the matter. Some organizations have also announced their selection themselves, while the full list is set to be revealed by Riot Games in the coming days. Partner status grants selected teams access to several benefits throughout the year, which we have summarised in this article.
A guaranteed place at Kickoff
Next year’s competitive format is expected to change, with VCT Cups replacing the Stage tournaments throughout the season. The first event of the year will, however, remain the traditional Kickoff, where four teams from the Open Qualifiers will join the eight partner teams to compete. Partner status guarantees all eight organizations a place in the tournament. For the Cups, they should also skip the first rounds of the Open Qualifiers.
As has been customary for VCT teams in recent years, each organization will also have its own capsule and bundle available for players to purchase in-game. This year, teams are expected to have the opportunity to design their own capsule templates. Riot Games has confirmed that the weapon featured alongside the team skin will be a Ghost rather than the Classic used in previous years.
Financial Implications
Naturally, partner organizations benefit financially from their status, particularly through the capsules and bundles mentioned above. They also receive partnership payments from Riot Games in recognition of their contribution to the development of VALORANT esports. The exact amounts associated with these two benefits have not been made public, although the revenue generated by team sales is clearly a contributing factor. In 2025 alone, Riot distributed nearly $86 million to its forty partnered organizations.
Non-partner teams also receive support from Riot Games, including financial assistance to participate in online events, which can amount to as much as $1.1 million. Teams that qualify for either the Kickoff or a Cup through the open circuit will each receive $100,000. Should an open team secure qualification for a Masters event, it will earn $200,000. A team advancing from the open ecosystem all the way to Champions will receive $400,000. Riot also plans to award $100,000 to teams that qualify for the Game Changers Championship, while maintaining a total seasonal prize pool of more than $6 million. The remaining benefits will be reserved for the eight partner teams in each region.
