Masters London 2026: Everything You Need to Know

VALORANT’s biggest event in Europe is almost here. Masters London tips off June 6 at the Copper Box Arena. Twelve teams from four regions battle through three weeks for the second international title of the 2026 VCT season, with a $1,000,000 prize pool on the line. Riot reveals a new VALORANT map on the final day. The entire Fan Fest setup at Hackney Bridge is free for any fan attending.

If you only follow VALORANT casually, here is the full breakdown of what to expect.

The twelve teams

After Stage 1 wrapped across the four regional leagues, the field is locked. Three teams come from each region, and the lineup looks unusually deep this year.

From the Americas, Leviatán, G2 Esports and NRG carry the flag. Over in the Pacific, Paper Rex arrive alongside FULL SENSE and Global Esports. Meanwhile EMEA fields Team Heretics, Team Vitality and FUT Esports. Finally, the Chinese contingent rounds it out with EDward Gaming, XLG Esports and Dragon Ranger Gaming.

A few names jump off the list. Paper Rex arrive as one of the Pacific’s strongest sides. Team Vitality and Team Heretics carry the EMEA hopes on home soil, with FUT Esports rounding out the regional trio. Meanwhile the Chinese contingent brings three teams who all earned their spots through VCT CN Stage 1, with EDward Gaming and XLG Esports also having featured at Esports World Cup level events.

The format has a twist

Masters London splits into a Swiss Stage and a Playoffs bracket, but there is a wrinkle worth flagging.

First, each league’s Stage 1 winners earned a direct spot in the Playoffs. As a result, they skip the Swiss Stage entirely and watch from home while the other eight teams fight for the four remaining Playoffs slots. So twelve teams enter the event, but only eight play Swiss matches.

Next, the Swiss Stage runs June 6 to 10. Eight teams enter. Only four advance. Win two matches and you are through. Lose two and you are out. Furthermore, all matches are best-of-three. The full Swiss Stage bracket and live results are tracked on our tournament page.

After that, Playoffs run June 12 to 21 as double elimination. One loss puts you on the edge. Two losses send you home. Finally, the Grand Final lands Sunday, June 21.

In addition, every Playoffs win earns Championship Points toward Champions Shanghai, the season’s culminating event. So the stakes go beyond the trophy itself.

The full schedule

The event runs thirteen match days across roughly three weeks. Here is how it breaks down.

First, the Swiss Stage runs June 6 through 10, five straight days. Then a Dark Day on June 11 with no matches. After that, Playoffs begin June 12 and run through June 16, another five-day block. Meanwhile, two Tech and Rehearsal days follow on June 17 and 18, with no matches. Finally, the closing weekend: Playoffs continue June 19, the Lower Bracket Final lands June 20, and the Grand Final closes the tournament on June 21.

Either way, mark June 21 in your calendar. The Grand Final plus the new map reveal showmatch makes it the most-watched day of the event.

The Masters London MVP

After the Grand Final ends, one player walks away with the Tournament MVP award. Riot lays out the criteria clearly: it comes down to who made the biggest impact, stayed consistent, and delivered when it mattered most.

The vote itself is split between three groups. Talent (the broadcast desk and analysts), co-streamers, and media all weigh in to decide who truly stood out across the tournament. That mix gives the award a broader sense of judgment than a single-source pick would.

If you are watching the final live, stick around after the trophy lift. The MVP crowning happens right after, and it is usually the moment that defines a player’s career narrative for the rest of the season.

A new map drops on Finals Sunday

This is the bit that has the community buzzing. Specifically, Riot will reveal a brand new VALORANT map with a showmatch on June 21, featuring creators that have not been announced yet.

However, if you cannot wait for the official reveal, the Hackney Bridge Fan Fest hides clues and hints around the venue across Finals Weekend. In addition, Riot has told fans to keep an eye on VALORANT’s social channels in the run-up to see who is participating in the showmatch.

Furthermore, a new map at a Masters event is unusual. It signals that Riot wants this London showpiece to land as one of the year’s defining moments, not just another stop on the calendar.

Drops, Pick’Ems and Shotcall

If you are watching from home, there are three ways to earn or play along.

First, Drops are back. Tune in live to Masters London on official channels between June 6 and 21, and you earn exclusive rewards. The headline drop is the “Gutted” Title, free just for watching live matches.

Second, in addition to Drops, our Masters London Pick’Ems guide has the full reward tiers and lock dates if you want to chase the buddy or the title before Swiss starts.

Third, there is Shotcall, the live Twitch extension that lets you predict what happens next during official broadcasts. You call maps, rounds and clutch moments in real time. As a result, correct reads earn points and climb the global leaderboard. The Shotcall rewards include the “Party of 1” Spray and the “Rubbish” Title, both unlocked through accurate predictions across the June 6 to 21 window. However, Shotcall is desktop-only via the Twitch extension.

Overall, that is three participation layers for three different commitment levels. Watch and earn Drops, lock Pick’Ems for prizes, or grind Shotcall for the leaderboard rewards.

What is happening at the venue

The Copper Box Arena in London hosts the matches. However, the fan experience extends beyond that into Hackney Bridge, where Riot is building out a full community space.

First, Fan Fest takes over Hackney Bridge during Finals Weekend. Importantly, it is free for any fan attending Masters London. The lineup includes creator meet-and-greets, live watch parties, Artist Alley, team booths, cosplay displays and interactive challenges like Defuse the Spike. Bring time. There is a lot to do.

Next, the Pro Zone is where fans get closest to the players. Official Masters London press conferences happen there. Attendees can hear directly from pros and coaches after matches, and in some cases fans even get to ask questions during media sessions. Additionally, it is the place to grab autographs and snap selfies.

Finally, Red Bull runs an activation from June 19 to 21 called The Red Bull Gaming Sphere On Tour. Onsite, there are playable VALORANT setups, a shareable photobooth, and a co-streamer booth where you might spot your favourite streamers. As a bonus, special Red Bull offers run at bars across Hackney Bridge and inside Copper Box too.

My quick read

Paper Rex are the team I would back. Specifically, their playstyle has historically translated well to international stages, and they have looked sharp through Pacific Stage 1. On the other hand, Team Vitality on home soil with the EMEA crowd behind them is the other obvious storyline. As a result, if they collide late in Playoffs, that is the bracket-defining match.

Furthermore, the new map reveal is what I am most curious about. Map releases at Masters events are rare. Whatever drops on June 21 will shape the meta heading into Champions Shanghai later in the season. Overall, worth tuning in just for that.

For live results once Swiss starts on June 6, the wider VALORANT calendar lives on our VALORANT news hub.