Changes are planned in Valorant to give more players than ever the chance of making it professionally, according to the game’s global head of esports.
The big weekend of Valorant Champions is on the way in Paris, and around the time of these events, Riot Games usually reveals what’s in the pipeline for Valorant going forward.
### Valorant Masters and Champions Locations for 2026
It has been revealed that in 2026, Valorant Masters will be heading to Santiago de Chile and London, with Valorant Champions taking place in Shanghai. Riot Games confirmed these locations as part of their commitment to expanding the global reach of Valorant esports.
### Expanding Opportunities for Professional Players
Speaking exclusively to indy100 ahead of the announcement, Leo Faria, Riot Games’ global head of Valorant esports, revealed that plans are taking shape to give more Valorant players than ever the chance to make it professionally—and to make the path clear on how to do it.
He said:
> “We’ve been talking about our plans for 2027 and beyond and we want to reignite the dream of being in Valorant. Five years ago, Valorant was the game to be in, everything was new, everything was possible and everyone went for it.
> “But five years on, things start to consolidate and it feels harder to achieve the dream.
> “We’ll still have Ascension every year where new teams have the possibility to get promoted through international leagues and get to our biggest stages. We’ve seen a healthy influx of players coming in and moving from tier one to tier two but the dream doesn’t feel as attainable as it felt five years ago.
> “So we’ve talked about how we have this goal and this desire to make Valorant feel a little bit more open to reignite that dream and give more people more chances and opportunities to make it to the top.
> “That’s a challenge we hope to address and ensure we have some good news to share on that front soon.”
### The Challenge of Going Pro
Faria emphasized that while the path will become more accessible, making it professionally will remain a difficult endeavor.
> “It’s hard because it’s very competitive. When you choose to become a professional player, it’s like choosing to become an actor or competitive athlete—it’s very hard, it’s very competitive, only the best of the best will get to the top.
> “But the path needs to be clear and possible.”
### A Truly Global Esport
Riot Games is committed to making Valorant a global esport. Faria explained:
> “One of the things that makes Valorant special is that it’s a truly global community, a truly global esport.
> “We try to reflect that in the events we put on, to show love back to these communities. Instead of repeating locations, we always try to go to places we haven’t been before and Santiago and London will be first stops for us.
> “There’s a lot that goes into choosing a specific location, such as the city, population and player base density. We partner up with local governments for all things logistics and getting in and out of the country, shipping gear, selecting venues—but it’s all driven by the players in these locations.”
### London: A Long-Awaited Location
Speaking about London specifically, Faria shared that it is a location Riot Games has wanted to bring Valorant to since the events began:
> “It’s one of those cities that’s an incredibly well-known city, a travel destination that people want to go to.
> “Agents and maps are from real places in the real world and when we go to a region, we try to make the event very specific to that region to celebrate its culture.”
### A Special Responsibility
Faria described the experience of hosting these major events as both special and a responsibility:
> “It feels special to be able to put such events on. We’re just a bunch of nerds and gamers who like to create video games for others and it feels very special. I love my job and I don’t take it for granted.
> “The time, effort and passion people put into it to support Valorant feels very special. We feel the responsibility but it also feels very special.”
### What’s Next?
More details about the Valorant 2026 events will be announced by Riot Games in the coming months, promising exciting developments for players and fans alike.
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