PhotiteValorant's OCE pathway in 2026, explained
There's no Challengers Oceania this year, so here's the route from Premier to VCT Pacific instead.
On 3 December 2025, Riot announced that Challengers Oceania would be wound down for 2026. Riot said the league hadn't grown as hoped and that running it outweighed the interest from viewers and players.
The route for Oceania teams now goes through Premier. Riot says the top Premier teams from each 2026 act qualify for an Oceania regional qualifier. The winner earns a spot at a Last Chance Qualifier, for a shot at one of the four Challengers places in the VCT Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs. VLR.gg reports that the Oceania team plays the top South Asia team and Southeast Asia's second and third seeds there.
Riot also said Game Changers Oceania would keep running in 2026, and that it would back more grassroots and community tournaments in the region.
Where these facts come from
- VALORANT Esports: Update to VALORANT Esports in Oceania (3 Dec 2025)
- VLR.gg: Riot Games sunsets Challengers Oceania in 2026
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