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VCT Masters Santiago 2026: All You Need to Know Guide
The 2026 VCT season is here and with the conclusion of Kickoff tournaments globally, the first Masters event of the season is upon us. VCT Masters Santiago assembles 12 of the best VALORANT teams in the world across 16 days to crown the tenth Masters winner and the first of the season. Which of the four regions will step forth in this pivotal first bout?
Attending Teams
A total of 12 teams will be in attendance for the first Masters event of the season - 3 from each of the 4 VCT leagues (Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China). Here are the attendees:
| VCT Americas | VCT EMEA | VCT Pacific | VCT China | |
| 1st Seed | FURIA | BBL Esports | NS RedForce | All Gamers |
| 2nd Seed | G2 Esports | Gentle Mates | T1 | XLG Esports |
| 3rd Seed | NRG | Team Liquid | Paper Rex | EDward Gaming |
This year, a fair few well-established names aren't even in attendance, with Kickoff 2026 across the 4 regions delivering incredible storylines from unexpected teams. Check out their stories here.
Key Dates and Format
Masters Santiago is spread across 16 days, from February 28th to March 15th. The tournament consists of 2 stages – Swiss Stage and Playoffs – and a break of 2 days in between the stages.
| Swiss Stage | Playoffs Stage | |
| Date | Feb 28th - Mar 4th | Mar 6th - 15th |
| No. of Teams | 8 | 8 |
| Format | Swiss System | Double Elimination |
The 1st seeds from each region immediately earned a bye for Santiago, and are headed directly for Playoffs. Meanwhile, the 2nd and 3rd seeds will have to battle it out in the Swiss Stage. The top 4 performing teams will then join the awaiting 4 in Playoffs, where a double-elimination gauntlet will have to be traversed.
All matches in the Swiss Stage will be Bo3 format (Best-of-Three). Playoffs will mostly be Bo3 as well, with the exception of the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final, which will be Bo5 (Best-of-Five).
How to Watch Masters Santiago 2026?
All matches for Masters Santiago are confirmed to be live-streamed in English on Twitch, Youtube, and TikTok (1, 2). Check out our guide for ticket information and how to purchase.
*The article may be updated as more information comes to light. Last updated: 16/2/2026
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Featured Image Credit: VCT // Riot Games
