Organizer
Tournament edition
VCT 2026: Americas Stage 1
VCT 2026: Americas Stage 1 ran April 10–May 24 at Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles. Twelve teams played a five-week group stage and eight-team double-elimination playoffs; G2 Esports beat Leviatán 3–2 in the final.
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Updated October 19, 2026Competition snapshot
Host and dates
Riot Games Arena, Los Angeles, United States · Apr 10–May 24, 2026[2][3]
Champion
Combined prize pool
Unknown; the official Stage 1 guide and VLR listing do not provide a cash prize amount[2][3]
Games
Participant scale
CategoryPartnerCommercial note
Category
Organizer
Partner
Riot GamesCommercial note
Organizer and circuit operator · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[2]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
Red BullCommercial note
Official VCT energy drink · Red Bull Clutch Moment partner · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[2]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
SecretlabCommercial note
Official gaming chair partner · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[2]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
VerizonCommercial note
Official 5G and wireless services provider · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[2]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
PulsarCommercial note
Official mouse, keyboard, and mousepad partner · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[2]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
ExpressVPNCommercial note
Official VPN partner · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[4]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
SamsungCommercial note
Official home entertainment partner · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[4]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
ZOWIECommercial note
Official monitor partner · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[4]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
HPCommercial note
Official PC, laptop, and headset partner for Stage 1 · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[4]
PTG Database Analysis
Riot Games scheduled VCT Americas Stage 1 from April 10 to May 24 at Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles. Twelve teams played a five-week group stage in two groups of six, with a single round robin of best-of-three VALORANT matches. The top four in each group advanced to the double-elimination playoffs; the lower-bracket final and grand final were best of five. The top three qualified for Masters London.[2][3]
Eight brands and companies were part of the VCT Americas partner portfolio during Stage 1: Red Bull, Secretlab, Verizon, Pulsar, ExpressVPN, HP, Samsung, and ZOWIE. Their announced roles included in-game and broadcast activations, gaming chairs, wireless service, peripherals, VPN access, computers and headsets, home entertainment, and monitors. Each partner now resolves to a canonical PTG page.[2][4]
G2 Esports VALORANT beat Leviatán Esports VALORANT 3–2 in the final to win the title.[3]
References4
- [1]VCT 2026: Americas Stage 1 — tournament listing — GosuGamers
- [2]VCT Americas 2026 Stage 1: Everything You Need to Know — VALORANT Esports
- [3]VCT 2026: Americas Stage 1 — groups, playoffs, and results — VLR.gg
- [4]VCT Americas Welcomes New Partners for Stage 1 — VALORANT Esports
Commercial opportunities
VCT Americas 2026 partners
The VCT Americas partner portfolio included Red Bull, Secretlab, Verizon, and Pulsar. Before Stage 1, ExpressVPN, HP, Samsung, and ZOWIE joined the portfolio. Riot described their roles across energy-drink activations, gaming chairs, wireless services, peripherals, VPN access, computers and headsets, home entertainment, and monitors.[2][4]
Tournament schedule
- Grand Final
G2 Esports wins Americas Stage 1
G2 Esports defeated Leviatán 3–2 in the best-of-five grand final. The top three qualified for Masters London.[](cite:2)[](cite:3)
- Playoffs
Eight-team double-elimination playoffs begin
The playoff bracket ran May 14–24; the lower-bracket final and grand final were best-of-five matches.[](cite:2)[](cite:3)
- Group Stage
Group stage concludes
The top four teams in each group advanced to the playoffs.[](cite:2)[](cite:3)
- Group Stage
VCT Americas Stage 1 begins
The 12-team competition opened its five-week group stage, with two groups of six playing single round robins in best-of-three matches.[](cite:2)[](cite:3)
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