After the final on October 18
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Valorant Champions 2026 – what you need to know
The Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle is the hottest skin collection of the year – for one simple reason: Champions bundles appear only once a year, right on time for the world championship of the VALORANT Champions Tour. In 2026 this final ran from September 24 to October 18 in Shanghai, and as every year Riot releases an exclusive weapon collection around the event that picks up the tournament's colors, logo and trophy.
Now official – as of Sep 25, 2026:
The Champions 2026 bundle has been officially revealed since September 17, 2026 – Riot showed the collection in a trailer. Release: September 23, 2026, as the tournament kicked off. Bundle 6,640 VP (was 9,950), Phantom alone 2,675 VP. It contains a Champions Phantom and a transforming Fan Melee (fan knife): the Phantom has four upgrade tiers with its own dragon finisher and a dynamic side-swap effect – it looks different on defense (cream-gold, pearl-white) than on attack (darker with red accents). The melee has three tiers and folds into a fan. A gun buddy, a spray and three player cards are included too. Riot has confirmed the official total price: 6,640 VP (was 9,950), with the Phantom alone 2,675 VP. As every year, parts of the proceeds (50% in previous years) go to the participating teams – our economics analysis shows how much that really is. The event ran from September 24 to October 18 in Shanghai. All results are bundled in our Champions live hub; the Pick’Ems closed with the grand final.
Is the bundle worth it for your locker?
Before you spend 6,640 VP: check what your collection is already worth – and try the simulator to see which skins the next Night Market could offer you cheaper.
Unlike normal bundles, the Champions series is a must-buy for many collectors. It's strictly time-limited, doesn't return to the shop afterwards and is the only collection to carry the famous Champions aura – a golden shimmer that wraps your weapon as soon as you have the most kills in the match. If you want to see how Champions sets compare with regular collections, check the Valorant bundles overview. It's exactly this mix of prestige, rarity and a visible status symbol that makes the bundle so coveted year after year.
On this page you'll find everything known so far about the 2026 bundle: which weapon it is, what's inside, what it costs and whether it's worth buying. Riot revealed the collection on September 17; the bundle was in the store from September 23 to October 20, 2026 – full price 6,640 VP (was 9,950), Phantom alone 2,675 VP. That way you always have the latest state in one place, without having to dig through ten different leak threads.
In short: if you want to know whether the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle is worth it, you're in exactly the right place. From the individual skins through the price to the tournament in Shanghai, you'll find all the important info bundled together, explained clearly and continuously updated – without empty marketing promises and without dubious calls to buy.
When did the Champions 2026 bundle release? Release & window
Riot officially revealed the collection on September 17; the bundle was in the store from September 23 to October 20, 2026, right in time for the tournament in Shanghai. The full bundle cost 6,640 VP (was 9,950), the Phantom alone 2,675 VP. The Champions bundle traditionally appears around the start of the Champions tournament, usually with the last big patch beforehand. In 2026 that was patch 13.06: the bundle went live on September 22 (NA) or September 23 (EU) – just before the tournament start on September 24.
Why so early? Riot deliberately releases the bundle in good time so fans already have the skins in use during the group stage and part of the revenue flows into the prize pool early. Date and contents are set; the price is confirmed: 6,640 VP (was 9,950). Our tip: bookmark this page – we’ll add the official end date of the bundle as soon as Riot names it.
✅ Now official – update from September 17, 2026
- Riot has officially revealed the Champions 2026 collection in a trailer (September 17).
- Confirmed contents: Champions Phantom (4 upgrade tiers, dragon finisher, attack/defense side-swap) + transforming fan melee (3 tiers) + gun buddy.
- Release: in the store from September 23 to October 20, 2026 – the tournament started Sept 24 in Shanghai.
- An official total price is confirmed; the bundle cost 6,640 VP (was 9,950), the Phantom alone 2,675 VP.
- Also hot: the new agent Hush.
What's inside the Champions bundle 2026
Based on Riot's reveal of September 17 and the official store prices since September 23. Tap a card for details.
The Champions bundle packs a full skin collection with a Phantom and a fan melee for 6,640 VP (was 9,950; 2025 also 6,640 VP). Collection and date have been official since September 17; the bundle was in the store from September 22/23 to October 20, 2026.
The 2026 bundle follows the proven structure of previous years: one main weapon, a high-quality melee and five accessory items (three player cards, a gun buddy and a spray). Because Vandal and Phantom alternate each year among the Champions skins – odd years a Vandal, even years a Phantom – 2026 is a Phantom year. And that is exactly what happened: the main weapon is the Champions 2026 Phantom. Tap a card to see details and the individual price.
Price check: individual vs. bundle
Individual prices as shown in the shop (as of Sept 23, 2026): 6,640 VP instead of 9,950 VP – 3,310 VP saved.
Official Champions 2026 individual prices (as of Sept 25, 2026): 6,640 VP instead of 9,950 VP.
Champions aura, VFX & levels – what makes the skins special
The real star of every Champions collection isn't the colors, but the effects. The Champions aura is a golden outline that only appears on your weapon when you're holding the top of the scoreboard in the ongoing match. For many players that's exactly the appeal: the skin shows everyone in the match that you're currently the best on the server – a status symbol you have to earn anew every round.
On top come elaborate visual effects, custom sounds for reloading and firing, plus a special finisher – the animation that plays when you take out the last enemy of a round. The 2026 finisher is dragon-themed and features the agents Sage and Viper – fitting the Shanghai host city. Champions finishers are traditionally among the most spectacular in the whole game; the 2024 version showed a supernova explosion, for example. The 2026 Phantom also has an evolving aura and a dynamic kill banner that reacts to your kills and changes over the course of the round.
As with all premium skins, the weapons can be upgraded with Radianite Points. Each upgrade level unlocks more VFX, additional color variants and final sound effects. Important to know: the Champions aura itself is always active and costs no Radianite – the upgrades only affect the remaining effects. So if you want to get the most out of the skin, plan for a few Radianite Points, but you don't have to do it right away.
What does that cost in real money?
VALORANT Points only come in fixed packs. Drag the slider and see which combination is cheapest.
You can calculate more precisely and compare all VP packs with the VP calculator.
Buying VP – but safely
You get VALORANT Points exclusively through the official in-game shop or official gift cards from retail. Around every bundle release, dubious offers spring up promising cheap VP or free Champions skins. Hands off: Riot doesn't sell VP anywhere cheaper, and no reputable site gives away skins in exchange for your login details. Such offers are practically always phishing and, in the worst case, cost you your entire account along with all the skins you've already bought.
A second point: VP only comes in fixed packs, never to the exact cent. So for a bundle around 6,640 VP you have to buy a bit more, and a small remainder stays on your account. The calculator above shows you the cheapest combination – you usually end up at around €65. Anyone who plans to buy skins more often anyway is marginally better off in the long run with a larger pack, because the price per VP drops slightly with pack size.
By the way: the Radianite Points you need to upgrade the Champions weapon aren't included in the bundle. They come either from the battle pass or are bought separately – factor that in if you want to bring the skin to the highest level and unlock all effects.
Is the 2026 bundle worth it?
Whether a Champions bundle is worth it depends heavily on what you're looking for. Purely by the numbers it's no bargain – at around €60–65 it sits at the upper end of what a skin pack in VALORANT can cost. In return, though, you get a set you'll never be able to acquire like this again, plus the only aura in the game that actively makes your rank on the scoreboard visible. For anyone who collects Champions skins or likes the prestige, it's almost a given; anyone who just wants a nice Phantom is cheaper off with the single weapon.
A practical tip: before buying, watch videos with the inspect animations, finisher and all upgrade levels – that way you see the skins in motion instead of just on the static shop image. You can no longer buy the bundle, though: per the VALORANT Wiki, the revenue window for the teams ended on October 20, 2026, and the bundle left the shop after that. The verdict below stays up as a review.
In favor
- Phantom with side-swap design (attack/defense)
- Collector value: Champions skins are time-limited
- Bundle saves 3,310 VP vs. buying individually
- Part of the revenue goes to the teams
Against
- At ~€65, no bargain
- Limited edition – gone once the run ends
- Was only in the shop for a limited time
- Anyone who only wants the Phantom still pays for the whole set
Not purchase advice – in the end your taste and your budget decide.
After the run: what to watch out for
The Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle is no longer available since October 20, 2026 – it can't be bought anymore, not even through third parties. You can still look at the skins, for example in the Skin Cinema or the Loadout Builder.
Don't let fake countdown pages or supposed pre-order links pressure you. The bundle was only ever sold in the official in-game shop, from September 23 to October 20, 2026 – if you see an offer for it now, it’s a scam. The same goes for supposed “leftover stock” or account sales that include the bundle.
And very important: buy VP exclusively directly in the official Riot client or via genuine gift cards. No reputable provider asks for your login details for the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle outside the game – any site that does is a scam attempt.
What the last Champions bundle looked like
Official Riot renders of the Champions 2025 bundle – shown as a reference. You can see the real skin view of the Champions 2026 Phantom at the top of the page.
Image source: official Riot/VALORANT assets. The real skin view of the Champions 2026 Phantom is at the top of the page.
All Champions bundles at a glance
From Berlin 2021 to Shanghai 2026 – a new Champions collection every year. Swipe sideways.
The Champions series began in 2021 in Berlin with a Vandal and a Karambit. Since then there's been a new collection every year, closely tied to the host city and tournament: in 2022 in Istanbul a Phantom with a butterfly knife, in 2023 in Los Angeles a Vandal again, in 2024 in Seoul the much-praised Phantom with a supernova finisher, and most recently in 2025 a Vandal, also with a butterfly. Prices stayed remarkably stable over the years: 6,263 VP (2021), 6,167 VP three times (2022–2024) and 6,640 VP (2025, the first year with a trophy flex). In 2026 the series continues in Shanghai – following the familiar pattern, once again with a Phantom. That makes the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle already the sixth of its kind – and for many fans the most anticipated since the series started in 2021.
VCT Champions 2026 in Shanghai
Around the bundle, the biggest VALORANT tournament of the year took place: the world championship – won by LOUD.
Format
16 teams from four regions (Americas, EMEA, Pacific, China) started in four GSL groups of four teams each (best-of-3). The top two of each group advanced to the double-elimination playoffs; the grand final on October 18 was played best-of-5 (as in 2025, the lower final too).
Prize money distribution
| Placement | Prize money |
|---|---|
| 1. | $1,000,000 |
| 2. | $400,000 |
| 3.–4. | $250,000–130,000 |
| 5.–16. | $85,000–20,000 |
The 16 teams
The field was set on September 7. All teams, groups and qualification paths in the live hub.
16 teams from four regions – Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China – battled in Shanghai for the title and the lion's share of the $2.25 million prize pool. The field: four teams each from China (TYLOO, JD Gaming, EDward Gaming, XLG Esports), EMEA (Karmine Corp, Team Liquid, FUT Esports, Team Vitality), Pacific (Global Esports, Nongshim RedForce, Paper Rex, T1) and Americas (then-defending champions NRG, G2 Esports, 100 Thieves, LOUD) qualified via the Stage 2 playoffs or their region's Championship Points. For the Chinese scene, the home event in Shanghai was a special highlight, and the local hype was correspondingly large. First came a group stage in GSL format, after which a double-elimination bracket decided the world champion. Final standings, Oct 18, 2026: LOUD are world champions, beating Team Vitality 3–1 in the grand final – their second title after 2022. 100 Thieves finish third, G2 Esports fourth; defending champions NRG end up 5th–6th. Tournament MVP is erde (LOUD). Before the final, Riot revealed the new agent Hush. All results are in the Champions Live Hub.
Where VCT Champions 2026 was streamed
The matches ran for free on the official VALORANT channels on Twitch and YouTube. Anyone who tuned in via the official channels with their Riot account linked to Twitch could also secure Drops during the event – free rewards like sprays, player cards or gun buddies.
The link between bundle and tournament is direct here: part of the revenue from the Champions bundle – around half in 2025 – is split among the participating teams. So anyone who buys the bundle directly supports the pro scene. For many fans that's an additional argument to grab this one bundle a year in particular, rather than leaving it at a normal collection.
What is your own locker worth?
Before you put around €60 into a new bundle, it's worth a look at what you already own. Many players underestimate how much their inventory has become worth over the years – especially old Champions skins, battle pass content and limited collections quickly add up to a considerable sum.
With the free Valorant-Spind tool you calculate the total value of your skins in VP and euros in seconds – including the Champions skins of past years. That way you see at a glance how much is in your account and can better decide whether the new bundle is really necessary or whether your locker is already well stocked.
And if in the end you do decide on the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle, thanks to the value overview you'll at least know exactly how much your locker is worth in total afterwards – including the new Champions skins, which experience shows become sought-after collector's items themselves over the years.
🏆 Champions 2026 is decided: LOUD lift the trophy. See the full bracket with every result in the Champions bracket predictor.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle come out?
The bundle has been officially revealed since September 17, 2026 (Riot trailer). In-shop release was September 23, 2026, at the start of Champions Shanghai (September 24 to October 18, 2026); it stayed in the store until October 20, 2026. The bundle cost 6,640 VP (was 9,950), the Phantom alone 2,675 VP.
What does the Champions 2026 bundle cost?
The full bundle costs 6,640 VP (was 9,950 VP – limited edition), the Phantom alone 2,675 VP. Bought individually the items total 9,950 VP – the bundle saves you 3,310 VP. For comparison: the 2025 bundle also cost 6,640 VP (individual value 10,175 VP).
Is it a Vandal or a Phantom?
By the familiar pattern (even years = Phantom), 2026 is a Phantom. And that is exactly the case: the Champions 2026 is a Phantom.
Do the teams get a share of the revenue?
Yes. As with the last Champions bundles, part of the revenue (2025: around half) goes to the participating teams.
Where do I find what my current locker is worth?
With the Valorant-Spind tool you calculate the value of your skins in seconds – including Champions skins of past years.
Will the bundle ever return to the shop?
No. Champions bundles are one-off and time-limited. Unlike regular collections that rotate in the daily shop, Champions skins don't return after the promotional period – that's exactly what makes their collector value.
Do I need Radianite Points for the Champions aura?
No. The golden Champions aura is always active as soon as you lead the scoreboard. You only need Radianite Points to unlock additional VFX, color variants and sound upgrades of the weapon.
Can I buy just the Phantom on its own?
Usually yes – Riot generally also offers the main weapon individually, but without the rest of the accessories. On its own it's cheaper than the bundle, but if you want the melee and accessories (cards, buddy, spray), the complete bundle is significantly more economical.
How long does the Champions 2026 bundle stay in the shop?
The bundle was in the store from September 23 (Americas: September 22) to October 20, 2026 and is no longer available since then. Until the end of the revenue window on October 20, part of the proceeds went to the teams – according to Riot, over $50 million by mid-October. Champions bundles haven't returned so far.
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