On September 16, the VALORANT Champions preview event was held as scheduled. The 2026 Champions Shanghai tournament will take place in Shanghai from September 24 to October 18. At the same time, Shanghai will host a large citywide esports culture program lasting nearly a month, with cross-industry collaborations, city festivals and trend-led consumption. Built around the tournament, the program will extend the viewing experience, trend culture and leisure spending into neighborhoods, shopping districts and waterfront areas, offering residents and visitors a one-stop urban entertainment experience.
VALORANT’s Top Global Tournament Comes to China for the First Time
As the core competitive event in the program, VALORANT Champions is one of esports’ highest-level international tournaments. This is the first time the event has been held in China. The tournament will open at Jing’an Sports Center before moving to Mercedes-Benz Arena for an unforgettable Finals Weekend. Teams from the world’s major regions will compete, with four teams representing VCT CN: first seed TYL, second seed JDG, third seed EDG and fourth seed XLG. They will represent the CN region in pursuit of the global championship. The teams will bring world-class competition to audiences and use Shanghai’s international platform to showcase the energy of Chinese esports culture.
Cross-Industry Collaborations Bring Trend Culture into City Spaces
On September 24, a limited-time concept space created in collaboration between VALORANT and Balenciaga will open on Yongyuan Road. Residents can book a visit and experience esports trend culture in an immersive setting. From September 28, VALORANT and Haidilao will launch a nationwide collaboration, with multiple restaurants upgraded into Champions-themed locations. Esports elements will enter everyday dining, allowing consumers to experience the tournament atmosphere during a regular meal.
Multiple Business Formats Connect the Citywide Experience
During Champions, a range of partner activations will span specialty coffee, trend-focused bars, fashion retail and shopping complexes. Manner coffee shops and Speak Low, a jazz bar, will incorporate tournament themes; fashion retailer DOE and POP MART will offer limited-edition collaboration content; and commercial complexes including Shanghai Joy City and REDLAND will open themed experience spaces to the public free of charge. Locations across several Shanghai districts will connect dining, shopping and tourism into a citywide esports culture route.
City Festivals Extend the Program and Activate the Waterfront at Night
During the tournament, a series of player activities will be integrated into the Qiantan area’s city-festival program. From September 24, a Sage-themed garden at Qiantan Leisure Park will open to the public. From October 16 to 18, a large player party will be held in Qiantan, featuring a 10-meter-tall character sculpture and interactive installations alongside the Qiantan Lifestyle Festival. Qiantan Gongyuanxiang will also stage light and visual art incorporating game elements, in sync with the neighborhood’s city light festival. University esports exchanges, a player-industry summit and other activities will take place during the tournament.
From professional arenas to trend-focused streets, from neighborhood shopping districts to the waterfront, a series of tournaments and related activities will roll out over the coming month. This autumn, esports culture will add new programming to Shanghai’s urban life and provide fresh momentum for the city’s efforts to become an international consumption center and deepen integration across culture, tourism, commerce, sports and exhibitions.
