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The Valorant Champions 2026 field is locked in, and the rosters heading to Shanghai mix proven world champions, rebuilt lineups and first-time international debutants. Sixteen five-player lineups will compete for the final world title of the franchise era, and it’s a field with a notable absence. This is the first Champions without Fnatic. From NRG’s title-defending core to Nongshim RedForce’s rise from Challengers, here’s every lineup at VCT Champions 2026, region by region.
Valorant Champions 2026 Americas Rosters
| Team | Roster | Qualified Via | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Thieves | Asuna, bang, Cryocells, vora, Timotino | Stage 2 champions | A |
| LOUD | Darker, DaviH, lukxo, erde, tkzin | Stage 2 runners-up | B |
| NRG | brawk, mada, skuba, Ethan, keiko | Championship Points #1 | D |
| G2 Esports | BABYBAY, valyn, jawgemo, leaf, trent | Championship Points #2 | C |
100 Thieves arrive with a familiar core. Asuna, Cryocells and bang are back for another shot at glory, and the momentum is with them after a Stage 2 Grand Final against LOUD that could have gone either way.
LOUD look very different from the side that lifted the 2022 trophy. The Brazilian organisation is at its first international event since Masters Madrid in 2024, with a completely new lineup and the same mission of making Brazil proud.
NRG bring the defending champions’ core to Shanghai. The big storyline is Ethan, who could become the sport’s first three-time champion and its first back-to-back winner. G2 Esports offer stability: the roster has changed little over the years, with three of its active players signed since the 2024 season.
Valorant Champions 2026 EMEA Rosters
| Team | Roster | Qualified Via | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karmine Corp | SUYGETSU, Avez, dos9, LewN, N4RRATE | Stage 2 champions | D |
| Team Liquid | nAts, trexx, Kicks, kamo, GSR | Stage 2 runners-up | C |
| FUT Esports | sociablEE, yetujey, xeus, KROSTALY, s0pp | Championship Points #1 | A |
| Team Vitality | Chronicle, Derke, PROFEK, Jamppi, Sayonara | Championship Points #2 | B |
EMEA arrives hungry. The region hasn’t won a Masters or Champions title since Fnatic lifted the Masters Tokyo 2023 trophy.
Karmine Corp arrive as EMEA’s top seed and look like the region’s strongest side. Led by Avez, they built strong momentum through Stage 2 and bring it to Shanghai. Team Liquid return with a rebuilt roster, still anchored by veteran nAts, after a lower bracket run that secured their Champions spot on the way to the final.
Team Vitality are the veterans’ pick. The squad finished fourth at Masters London before an early Stage 2 exit, and its experienced lineup may be more comfortable on the high-stakes international stage than less seasoned rivals. FUT Esports field an all-Turkish roster that proved it belongs among the best with a 5th–6th finish in London and third place in Stage 2.
Valorant Champions 2026 Pacific Rosters
| Team | Roster | Qualified Via | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Esports | Autumn, UdoTan, Kr1stal, xavi8k, PatMen | Stage 2 champions | B |
| Nongshim RedForce | Rb, Dambi, Francis, Ivy, Xross | Stage 2 runners-up | D |
| Paper Rex | Jinggg, invy, f0rsakeN, d4v41, something | Championship Points #1 | C |
| T1 | stax, BuZz, Munchkin, Meteor, iZu | Championship Points #2 | A |
Nongshim RedForce may have the best roster story in the field. After sweeping Paper Rex to win Masters Santiago, they now chase a trophy at their first Champions. Dambi was named MVP of Masters Santiago, which makes him one of the players to watch in Shanghai.
Global Esports won their first VCT trophy by reverse sweeping Nongshim in the Pacific Stage 2 final. The roster is one of the most flexible the professional scene has seen, and Champions is the ultimate test of that adaptability.
Paper Rex have kept their squad largely intact for years, sticking with a formula that works. After a 5th–6th Stage 2 finish, Jinggg, f0rsakeN, d4v41 and co. are looking to bounce back. Their firepower is proven: d4v41 topped the Masters Santiago kill charts with 371. T1, winners of Masters Bangkok last year, have another shot at redeeming a disappointing Champions 2025 run.
Valorant Champions 2026 China Rosters
| Team | Roster | Qualified Via | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| TYLOO | SiuFatBB, splash, Scales, slowly, Erv | Stage 2 champions | C |
| JD Gaming | jkuro, BerLIN, Yuicaw, zhe, crownfisher | Stage 2 runners-up | A |
| EDward Gaming | nobody, ZmjjKK, Smoggy, CHICHOO, Jieni7 | Championship Points #1 | B |
| XLG Esports | NoMan, Rarga, WsLeo, Lysoar, happywei | Championship Points #2 | D |
TYLOO and JD Gaming are both making their first international appearances, but their rosters aren’t short of experience. TYLOO’s IGL SiuFatBB played at Masters Toronto last year with Wolves, and his former Wolves teammate Yuicaw now plays for JDG. TYLOO beat JDG in the Stage 2 Grand Final, taking revenge on the team that had sent them to the lower bracket earlier in the playoffs.
EDward Gaming carry the host region’s star power. Their lineup features ZmjjKK, whose presence in and out of the game has made him one of the scene’s most recognisable players. EDG finished third at Masters London, while XLG Esports went out slightly earlier in 5th–6th place.
Players to Watch at Valorant Champions 2026
- Ethan (NRG): chasing a place in history as the first three-time and back-to-back world champion.
- Dambi (Nongshim RedForce): the Masters Santiago MVP, leading a Challengers-rooted team at its first Champions.
- d4v41 (Paper Rex): the top fragger at Masters Santiago with 371 kills.
- ZmjjKK (EDward Gaming): China’s headline star, playing a world championship in front of a home crowd.
- Asuna (100 Thieves): part of the experienced 100T core arriving as Americas champions.
- Derke and Chronicle (Team Vitality): former Fnatic stars carrying international experience into EMEA’s veteran lineup.
Roster Storylines: Debutants, Rebuilds and Stable Cores
The 16 lineups fall into a few broad groups, and each brings a different kind of pressure into Shanghai.
| Storyline | Teams |
|---|---|
| Debutants | TYLOO, JD Gaming (first internationals), Nongshim RedForce (first Champions) |
| Rebuilt lineups | LOUD, Team Liquid |
| Stable cores | Paper Rex, G2 Esports |
| Former world champions | NRG (2025), EDward Gaming (2024), LOUD (2022) |
Debutants play with nothing to lose, rebuilt rosters have to prove new pieces fit under pressure, and stable cores lean on chemistry built over seasons. With three former world champion organisations in the field, there’s no shortage of teams that know what it takes to win.
Valorant Champions 2026 Rosters FAQ
Who are NRG’s players at Valorant Champions 2026?
NRG field brawk, mada, skuba, Ethan and keiko as they defend their 2025 world title.
Which teams are making their international debut?
TYLOO and JD Gaming are playing their first international event. Nongshim RedForce are at their first Champions.
Is Fnatic playing at Valorant Champions 2026?
No. Shanghai is the first Champions without Fnatic.
How many players compete at VCT Champions 2026?
The 16 teams each field a five-player starting lineup.
Which former world champions are in the field?
NRG (2025), EDward Gaming (2024) and LOUD (2022). LOUD’s current roster is completely new from their title-winning lineup.
Which Lineup Will Close Out the Franchise Era?
Every roster in Shanghai carries a different story into the last Champions of the franchise era. NRG want history, Nongshim want to cap a Challengers-to-champions rise, LOUD’s new lineup wants to restore Brazil’s place at the top, and China’s four teams want to deliver on home soil. With the lineups set and the group stage now starting, the only question left is which five players will lift the trophy on October 18. For team previews, player picks and match predictions throughout the event, keep it locked to Tips.gg.