LOUD and 100 Thieves Join Red Bull Home Ground 2026: The Ultimate OFF//SEASON Lineup Is Here
The most highly anticipated OFF//SEASON event in VALORANT is reaching boiling point! Red Bull Gaming just dropped a massive bombshell by confirming that two of the Americas’ greatest juggernauts, LOUD and 100 Thieves, are joining the Red Bull Home Ground 2026 roster. Marking its historic debut on the US West Coast, the tournament will take over Los Angeles from December 10 to 13, delivering an explosive end to the year and setting the stage for the 2027 season.
1. Red Bull Home Ground 2026 Roster: Clash of the Titans
Back in September, Red Bull thrilled the community by unveiling its first batch of heavy-hitting invited teams: G2 Esports (the defending 2025 Home Ground champions), Sentinels, NRG, Fnatic, T1, and Zeta Division.
Now, the lineup has transformed into an absolute gauntlet. Joining the fray are LOUD—the reigning VALORANT Champions 2026 winners from Shanghai—and 100 Thieves, the reigning champions of the monumental Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026.
With 8 elite invited teams locked in, the final two spots will be fiercely contested through Open Qualifiers. North American squads will battle it out in the 2027 VCT Americas Kickoff North America Qualifiers (Nov 5 - Dec 6) to secure their tickets to LA. With the chaotic offseason in full swing, Red Bull Home Ground will serve as the perfect global stage for multiple teams to debut their newly revamped rosters and experimental strategies.
2. Historic Stakes: Live VCT 2027 Kickoff Draws
Red Bull Home Ground 2026 is no longer just a premier OFF//SEASON clash—it’s an official cornerstone of the VCT ecosystem. In a massive partnership with Riot Games, the event will host the official 2027 VCT Kickoff draw shows for the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific regions live in front of the roaring crowd on December 12-13.
Fans will get to witness the opening matchups of the new era being drawn in real time. Remember, the 2027 Kickoff tournaments will feature a brutal new format where 8 partnered teams clash with 4 open qualifier teams per region. The outcomes of these draws will dictate the bloodbaths of January, ultimately deciding who advances to Masters Seoul, the first global event of 2027.
3. A Massive Esports Festival: bbno$, Creators, and Fan Fest
After two days of intense Group Stage warfare at WePlay Studios, the competition moves to the legendary Shrine Auditorium on December 12 and 13 for Bracket Play and the Grand Final.
Epic Opening Ceremony: Canadian rapper bbno$ will take the stage on Sunday. Deeply embedded in gaming culture with his own channel and streamer-filled music videos, his performance promises to blow the roof off the Shrine,
via Riot Games Creator Appearances: Iconic Red Bull players including Ludwig, iiTzTimmy, and Emiru will be in attendance throughout the World Finals weekend.
Home Ground Fan Fest: Held outside the Shrine on Dec 12-13, this massive festival is completely free and open to the public (no ticket required). It features team booths, official merch, and interactive setups. (Finals ticketholders get exclusive arena access, complimentary Red Bull, and highly coveted player meet-and-greets).
4. Full Schedule Breakdown (PT Timezone)
Dec 10-11 (Thu-Fri): Group Stage action kicks off at 10:00 a.m.
Dec 12 (Sat): Pre-show (1:30 p.m.) → Bracket Play (2:00 p.m.) → One VCT 2027 Kickoff draw show.
Dec 13 (Sun): Pre-show (3:00 p.m.) → Showmatch (3:30 p.m.) → bbno$ Opening Ceremony (4:30 p.m.) → Best-of-five Grand Final (5:00 p.m.) → Two remaining VCT Kickoff draw shows.
