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 runs 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 colours, logo and trophy.
Status update – as of Sep 13, 2026:
The Champions 2026 bundle has, as of today (September 13), still not been officially revealed and cannot be found in the shop or in the game data. The skin data usually arrives with patch 13.06 (around September 22). Well-known leakers now name September 23 as the release day, one day before the tournament starts (unconfirmed!). New from the datamine (Sep 3): data miners report the Champions Phantom sits in the game data with four upgrade tiers – base, custom sounds, inspect/kill effects and the Champions aura – and the melee with three tiers including a custom animation; a flex item like in previous years has not shown up in the data so far. That also creates a second date scenario: if the current shop collection only runs for 14 days, September 16 would be mathematically possible – but the leaker consensus remains September 23 (all unconfirmed). Also from leaks: the Phantom is reportedly designed by the design lead of the acclaimed Champions 2024 Phantom. Known from leaks: a design in black/gold with red accents, at least one rifle and one melee weapon. As every year, 50% of the proceeds go to the participating teams – our economics analysis shows how much that really is. The event runs from September 24 to October 18 in Shanghai – based on past years, the official reveal is expected in the one to two weeks before the tournament starts (around mid-September). New (September 9): a high-reach leak account (@valohabercisi) now names September 16 (with patch 13.06) as a possible release – still ahead of the tournament start; nothing is officially confirmed yet. We will update this page as soon as Riot shows the collection – every countdown and daily update is bundled in our Champions live hub. Until then: from September 10 you can play Pick’Ems and earn free rewards.
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 is coming, what it's likely to cost, when it releases and whether it's worth buying. A large part of the details currently still rests on leaks from the datamining community – we mark that clearly and update the page as soon as Riot officially reveals the collection. 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 waiting for the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle is worth it, you're in exactly the right place. From the individual skins through the expected 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 is the Champions 2026 bundle coming? Release window & schedule
Riot hasn't confirmed an official release date yet. But experience from recent years and current leaks paint a clear picture: the Champions bundle traditionally appears shortly before the start of the Champions tournament, usually with the last big patch beforehand. For 2026 a window of late August to mid-September 2026 is circulating in the community – so a few days to a few weeks 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. As soon as the official patch schedule is set, we'll enter the exact date here. Our tip: bookmark 🔥 Leak update, September 7, 2026
Sources: leak-scene datamines (incl. VALORANTLeaksEN) · Everything provisional until the official reveal
What's inside the Champions bundle 2026
Based on official info about the 2025 bundle and the current 2026 leaks. Tap a card for details.
The Champions bundle packs a full skin collection with a Vandal, Phantom and knife for around 6,640 VP. This preview is based on the 2025 bundle and current 2026 leaks.
By everything that has leaked so far, the 2026 bundle follows the proven structure of previous years: one main weapon, a high-quality melee and four accessory items. Because Vandal and Phantom alternate each year among the Champions skins – odd years a Vandal, even years a Phantom – 2026 is a Phantom year. The leaks confirm exactly that and even name the designer of the celebrated Champions 2024 Phantom as the person responsible. Tap a card to see details and the expected individual price.
Price check: individual vs. bundle
Expected values based on the official Champions 2025 prices.
Prices based on the Champions 2025 bundle; Riot confirms the final 2026 prices at release.
Champions aura, VFX & levels – what makes the skins special
The real star of every Champions collection isn't the colours, 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. Champions finishers are traditionally among the most spectacular in the whole game; the 2024 version showed a supernova explosion, for example. For 2026 leaks point to 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 colour 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 €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: if you're unsure, wait out the first hours after release. That's when the first videos with inspect animations, finisher and all upgrade levels appear, and you see the skins in motion instead of just on the static shop image. The Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle stays available long enough to decide at your leisure – a mistaken purchase out of pure hype will annoy you longer than the few hours of waiting.
In favour
- Phantom by the designer of the celebrated 2024 version
- Collector value: Champions skins are time-limited
- Bundle saves ~3,535 VP vs. individual purchase
- Part of the revenue goes to the teams
Against
- At ~€65, no bargain
- Melee & final VFX not yet confirmed
- Available in the shop for a limited time only
- Anyone who only wants the Phantom still pays for the whole set
Not purchase advice – in the end your taste and your budget decide.
Tips for release day
Anyone who wants to grab the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle safely and without stress should prepare a few things. First: make sure there's enough VP on the account before the rush starts – on release day the shop servers are often under heavy load. Second: check in advance with the calculator above which VP pack fits best, so you don't buy too much or too little in the hurry.
Third: don't let fake countdown pages or supposed pre-order links pressure you. The bundle is available exclusively in the official in-game shop, and it stays available for around two weeks after release – so you don't have to buy in the first minute. Take the time to look at the final skins, the finisher and the upgrade levels calmly before you decide.
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 – as a reference until the 2026 images are revealed.
Image source: official Riot/VALORANT assets. We'll add the 2026 designs as soon as they're official.
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 at around 6,167 to 6,640 VP. 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 takes place: the world championship.
Format
16 teams from four regions (Americas, EMEA, Pacific, China) start in four GSL groups of four teams each (best-of-3). The top two of each group advance to the double-elimination playoffs; the lower final and grand final are played best-of-5.
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 |
Already qualified
Tournament data and participants as of now; further slots are awarded via the Stage 2 playoffs.
16 teams from four regions – Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China – battle in Shanghai for the title and the lion's share of the $2.25 million prize pool. With Paper Rex, EDward Gaming, Xi Lai Gaming and JD Gaming, some top teams are already confirmed; the remaining spots are awarded via the Stage 2 playoffs and the regions' Championship Points. For the Chinese scene, the home event in Shanghai is a special highlight, and the local hype is correspondingly large. First there's a group stage in GSL format, after which a double-elimination bracket decides the world champion – tension until the very last round is guaranteed.
How to watch VCT Champions 2026
The tournament runs for free on the official VALORANT channels on Twitch and YouTube, usually with a German co-stream. Anyone who tunes in via the official channels and links their Riot account to Twitch can also secure Drops – free rewards like sprays, player cards or gun buddies that are only available during the event.
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 €65 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.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Valorant Champions 2026 Bundle coming?
An official date is still pending. Current leak consensus (as of September 13, 2026): reveal on September 16, 2026 alongside Patch 13.06, with the in-shop release around September 23 – right in time for Champions Shanghai (September 24 to October 18, 2026). Still unconfirmed; we'll update this page as soon as Riot makes it official.
What does the Champions 2026 bundle cost?
Based on the 2025 bundle, expect around 6,640 VP (about €65). Individually the items would cost significantly more – in the bundle you save about 3,535 VP.
Is it a Vandal or a Phantom?
By the familiar pattern (even years = Phantom), 2026 is a Phantom. The leaks also point clearly to 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, colour 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, trophy flex and accessories, the complete bundle is significantly more economical.
How long does the Champions 2026 bundle stay in the shop?
In experience, about two to three weeks around the tournament. After that it disappears and doesn't come back. We'll add the exact end date as soon as Riot names it.
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