Masters Santiago 2026: Format, Teams, Schedule & More

Charn "s3rius2k1"
7 minutes ago
2 min read

Masters Santiago 2026 marks the first global event of the 2026 VCT season, bringing together 12 of the best VALORANT teams in the world. Hosted in Santiago, Chile, the tournament begins the road to Champions Shanghai and sets the tone for the international competitive year.

Masters Santiago 2026 kicks off the VCT season in Chile featuring 12 teams, Swiss Stage, Playoffs format, schedule, drops, and event details.

After the conclusion of regional Kickoff tournaments across Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China, the top three teams from each league have secured qualification for Masters Santiago 2026.

Teams Qualified for Masters Santiago 2026

The 12 qualified teams represent the four VCT international leagues:

VCT Americas

FURIA
G2 Esports
NRG

VCT Pacific

NS Redforce
T1
Paper Rex

VCT EMEA

BBL Esports
Gentle Mates
Team Liquid

VCT CN

All Gamers
XLG Esports
EDward Gaming

Each region’s Kickoff winner advances directly to the Playoffs stage, while the remaining eight teams begin in the Swiss Stage.

Masters Santiago 2026 Tournament Format

Masters Santiago 2026 is divided into two competitive phases:

Swiss Stage (February 28 – March 4)

8 teams compete
Win two matches to advance
Lose two matches and face elimination
All matches are Best-of-Three

Only four teams will survive and move forward.

Playoffs (March 6 – March 15)

Double-elimination bracket
Two losses result in elimination
Championship Points awarded for every win
Grand Final on March 15

The event concludes with one team lifting the trophy and earning critical Championship Points toward Champions Shanghai.

Masters Santiago 2026 Full Schedule

Swiss Stage

February 28 (Saturday)
March 1 (Sunday)
March 2 (Monday)
March 3 (Tuesday)
March 4 (Wednesday)
March 5 – No matches

Playoffs

March 6 (Friday)
March 7 (Saturday)
March 8 (Sunday)
March 9 (Monday)
March 10 (Tuesday)
March 11–12 – No matches

Finals Weekend

March 13 – Semifinals
March 14 – Lower Bracket Final
March 15 – Grand Final

Drops, Pick’Ems & Shotcall

Viewers tuning in to Masters Santiago 2026 can earn exclusive in-game Drops, including a special Title.

Fans can also participate in:

Pick’Ems powered by AWS
Shotcall (live Twitch prediction extension)

Shotcall allows viewers to predict maps, rounds, and clutch moments in real time via Twitch desktop.

Tournament MVP

One player will be crowned Masters Santiago 2026 MVP, selected by a panel of broadcast talent, co-streamers, and media. The award will be presented following the Grand Final, alongside a custom Good Art bracelet.