Event Overview

VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 is the first international event of the 2026 VCT season. It runs from February 28 to March 15 at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile. Twelve teams compete offline for a $1,000,000 USD prize pool and Championship Points that count toward Champions Shanghai. The event is played on LAN with a live audience.

The tournament brings together top teams that qualified through their Regional Kickoffs in the Americas, EMEA, China, and Pacific. Four teams start in the Playoffs as top regional seeds, and eight teams begin in an Early Stage that uses a Swiss format. The full field will be finalized when all Regional Kickoffs conclude.

Format and Advancement

The event has two stages: an Early Stage (Swiss Stage) and the Playoffs.

Early Stage (Swiss Stage):

– Eight teams enter this phase (the 2nd and 3rd place finishers from each of the four regions).
– All matches are best-of-three.
– Teams advance by reaching two match wins before taking two match losses.
– Teams that go 2-0 qualify for the Playoffs; teams that go 0-2 are eliminated.
– The top four teams from this stage move on.

Playoffs:

– Four top-seeded teams (the 1st place teams from each Regional Kickoff) start directly in the Playoffs.
– The four teams that advance from the Swiss Stage join them for a total of eight teams.
– The bracket is double elimination. Most matches are best-of-three.
– The Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final are best-of-five.

Prize pool distribution and the exact breakdown of Championship Points by placement will be announced. First place will earn the most points toward Champions Shanghai.

Qualified Teams So Far

Americas (from the VCT 2026 Americas Kickoff in Los Angeles, which used a triple-elimination format):

– FURIA: Won the grand final over MIBR. They lost Bind but won Abyss, Haven, and Split. Koalanoob stood out with a 243.9 ACS in the event.
– G2 Esports: Won the middle final with a 2-0 series sweep; map scores were Haven 13-6, Pearl 13-8, and Abyss 13-9 across their wins to qualify.
– NRG: Recovered from early losses and reverse-swept MIBR during their run, showing strong lower bracket performances to secure a Masters spot.

Teams from EMEA, China, and Pacific will be confirmed through their Regional Kickoffs. The four 1st-place teams from those regions start in the Playoffs, and the 2nd and 3rd-place teams start in the Swiss Stage.

Schedule and Key Dates

All times are local to Santiago, Chile.

Early Stage weekends (February 28; March 1, 6, 7, 8): doors open at 12:00 pm, show starts at 2:00 pm.

Early Stage weekdays (March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10): doors open at 1:30 pm, show starts at 3:00 pm.

Lower Bracket Finals: March 13 and 14.

Grand Final: March 15.

The schedule groups Swiss Stage matches across the first two weeks, followed by the double-elimination Playoffs culminating in the Grand Final. Dates may align with match readiness for teams coming from different regions, so plan attendance around the noted windows.

Tickets and Seating

Tickets are priced in Chilean Pesos (CLP) and include the service charge. There are two categories: Premium and General. Access includes La Galería standing areas and El Foro interview spaces.

Early Stage weekdays:
– Premium: CLP 15,686
– General: CLP 11,499

Early Stage weekends:
– Premium: CLP 20,907
– General: CLP 15,686

Lower Bracket Finals:
– Premium: CLP 26,134
– General: CLP 20,907

Grand Final:
– Premium: CLP 31,366
– General: CLP 26,134

Seating and entry times are set to manage crowds between Swiss Stage match blocks and Playoffs. Arriving at door times allows enough time for security checks and finding your spot before the show starts.

On-Site Guidelines

Cosplay is welcome with safety rules. Props must not include sharp metal or wood edges. Only blunt-edged props are allowed. Follow staff instructions for prop checks at entry. If a prop is not approved, it will need to be stored or not brought inside.

Plan for standard bag checks. Pack light to move through security faster. Review any venue-specific restrictions before attending. Food, drink, and re-entry policies typically follow standard arena guidelines; check posted signs on-site.

For those attending multiple days, keep your ticket details handy and check the matchday timing. Swiss Stage days can include multiple series with short breaks, and Playoffs days may run longer when matches go the distance. The Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final are best-of-five, so expect longer viewing sessions on those days.

Whether you are following a single team or watching the entire bracket, the format rewards consistency. Two early wins in Swiss secure a Playoffs berth, while a single match in the Playoffs does not end a team’s run due to the double-elimination bracket. The best-of-five finales provide more map depth, which often highlights preparation, agent pool flexibility, and resilience under pressure.