Valorant Season 26 kicks off January 11, 2026, and the roster shake-ups are absolutely wild! From Sentinels rebuilding around aspas to Fnatic welcoming Veqaj, these five teams could dominate the upcoming VCT season. NRG just won Champions Paris 2025, but can they repeat? Let’s dive into the rosters that’ll define competitive Valorant in 2026!
Table of Contents
Top 5 Valorant Season 26 Teams Overview
| Team | Region | Key Additions | Championship Status | Hype Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentinels | Americas | Cortezia, Kyu | 2021 Champions Winners | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| MIBR | Americas | aspas, Verno (rumored: zekken, Mazino, tex) | Rebuilding Superteam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Evil Geniuses | Americas | C0M, Okeanos (yay & icy departed) | Fresh Roster | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Fnatic | EMEA | Veqaj (Chronicle departed) | 2025 Runner-Up (3 GFs) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Paper Rex | Pacific | something, Jinggg | Masters Toronto 2025 Champions | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
1. Sentinels: The TenZ Era Continues with Fresh Blood
Sentinels is back in the spotlight after acquiring Cortezia from MIBR following Champions Paris disappointment. Meanwhile, academy talent Kyu finally transitions to the main roster after dominating the Challengers circuit since July 2025.
Why They’re Season 26 Contenders: TenZ remains one of North America’s most mechanically gifted duelists, and adding Cortezia’s strategic firepower creates a lethal combination. Kyu’s promotion signals Sentinels’ commitment to developing homegrown talent while maintaining their championship pedigree from 2021.
The roster blends veteran leadership with hungry rookies—a recipe that historically produces championship runs. With VCT Kickoff starting January 11, expect Sentinels to make deep playoff runs in Americas Stage 1.
💡 Pro Tip: Sentinels’ success depends on integrating Kyu’s aggressive playstyle with TenZ’s calculated risk-taking. For more roster move analysis, check our Valorant Rolling Loud India coverage!
2. MIBR: Building aspas’ Dream Team
This might be the most explosive roster rumor of Season 26! MIBR is reportedly rebuilding entirely around superstar duelist aspas and IGL Verno. According to reliable leakers like @RocketBullets, the organization is pursuing zekken, Mazino, and tex to complete aspas’ dream lineup.
The aspas Vision: Brazil’s finest duelist has long expressed his ideal team composition, and MIBR seems determined to make it reality. If these signings materialize, MIBR transforms from regional competitor to global championship contender overnight.
Why the Hype is Real:
- aspas: Consistent top-3 duelist globally with insane clutch factor
- zekken: Former Sentinels star with proven international experience
- Mazino & tex: Versatile players who excel in flex roles
- Verno: Tactical mastermind IGL who can unlock individual talents
Even TenZ acknowledged zekken-to-MIBR rumors during streams, adding credibility to the leaks. If confirmed, this roster rivals Paper Rex and NRG in pure firepower.
For more Brazilian esports dominance, explore our Esports Awards 2025 breakdown!
3. Evil Geniuses: Complete Roster Overhaul
Evil Geniuses struggled during Americas Stage 2, failing to qualify for international events. The organization responded decisively: veteran players yay and icy are OUT, replaced by proven performers C0M and Okeanos.
The New EG Identity: C0M and Okeanos bring multiple NA circuit victories and championship experience. Both players have proven they can perform under pressure during critical playoff moments—exactly what EG lacked in 2025.
Strategic Analysis: While losing yay (Chamber legend) hurts, his 2025 performance didn’t match historical peaks. C0M’s flexible agent pool and Okeanos’ aggressive entry style create a more cohesive team identity compared to the star-dependent previous roster.
Season 26 Prediction: EG likely won’t challenge for Champions Paris initially, but expect steady improvement through Stage 1 and 2. By mid-season, this roster could upset tier-1 teams and secure international qualification.
For agent meta insights, read our Valorant Waylay agent guide to understand current duelist strategies!
4. Fnatic: Boaster’s Last Championship Push
Fnatic reached three Grand Finals in 2025—Masters Toronto, Esports World Cup, and Champions Paris—losing all three, including the Champions final to NRG (3-2). Chronicle’s departure and Veqaj’s arrival from Gentle Mates marks a critical roster shift.
Boaster’s Championship Window: The veteran IGL confirmed he won’t retire until securing an international trophy. With Fnatic consistently placing top-2, they’re agonizingly close to breaking through. Replacing Chronicle (arguably EMEA’s most clutch player) with Veqaj is risky but necessary to inject new energy.
Why Fnatic Could Finally Win:
- Consistency: Three 2025 Grand Finals proves championship-caliber gameplay
- EMEA Dominance: Multiple regional trophies establish domestic supremacy
- Hunger: Losing three finals creates unmatched motivation
- Veqaj Factor: Fresh perspective could unlock new strategies
The Pressure: Season 26 might be Boaster’s final realistic championship shot. If Fnatic falters early, roster implosion becomes likely. But if Veqaj meshes seamlessly, expect Fnatic to finally lift a trophy.
For EMEA esports context, check our Season 25 Act 5 Battle Pass coverage!
5. Paper Rex: Defending Masters Toronto Champions
Paper Rex won Masters Toronto 2025, defeating Fnatic 3-1 in the Grand Final and reclaiming Pacific regional dominance with a Stage 2 trophy. Stars something and Jinggg led the charge, outgunning elite international opponents consistently.
What Makes PRX Special: Their aggressive frontline style and multi-role flexibility create nightmares for opponents. When something and Jinggg hit peak form, they’re virtually unstoppable—both consistently top first-kill charts and maintain insane K/D ratios.
Season 26 Outlook: PRX enters as reigning international champions with zero roster changes. This continuity advantage means no integration period—they’ll start Season 26 at full strength while rivals adapt to new teammates.
Potential Weaknesses: Their hyper-aggressive playstyle can backfire against disciplined defensive setups. If opponents force PRX into slower, controlled gameplay, vulnerabilities emerge. Expect teams to study Toronto VODs extensively to counter their tempo.
Championship Probability: Paper Rex remains a top-3 global team entering 2026. They’ve proven they can win when it matters most. The question isn’t if they’ll contend for trophies, but how many they’ll collect.
For Pacific region analysis, read our Valorant TukTuk Spray Bangkok Masters guide!
Honorable Mentions: Teams Just Outside Top 5
NRG (Americas Champions): Won Champions Paris 2025 defeating Fnatic 3-2, but roster stability questions linger. Can they repeat without significant additions?
G2 Esports (Americas Dynasty): Won all three Americas trophies in 2025 (Kickoff, Stage 1, Stage 2)—only team globally to three-peat regionally. Finished 2nd at Masters Bangkok and 4th at Toronto, proving international consistency.
Team Liquid (EMEA Stage 2 Champs): Dominated EMEA Stage 2 with spotless playoff run. Their rock-solid map pool and IGL Nats’ clutch prowess make them dangerous dark horses.
VCT Season 26 Key Dates
- VCT Kickoff 2026: January 11, 2026
- Stage 1 Regular Season: January-March 2026
- Masters 1: April 2026
- Stage 2 Regular Season: May-June 2026
- Masters 2: July 2026
- Champions 2026: September-October 2026
Mark your calendars! For previous season insights, explore our Valorant Season 2025 Act 3 Battlepass analysis!
Watch Valorant Season 26 Live
Official Streaming:
- Valorant Esports YouTube – All official VCT matches
- Valorant Esports Website – Live scores, schedules, and VODs
- Twitch ValorantEsports – Main English broadcast
Co-Streaming: Top creators like Tarik, Shroud, and Ludwig offer co-streams with commentary and analysis during major events.
Regional Channels: Americas, EMEA, and Pacific have dedicated regional broadcasts in multiple languages. Check Valorant Esports website for your region’s stream links!
Roster Rumor Reliability Check
How accurate are these Season 26 roster leaks?
The Sentinels additions (Cortezia and Kyu) are officially confirmed via team announcements, making them 100% accurate. Evil Geniuses’ roster changes (C0M, Okeanos in; yay, icy out) are also confirmed through official channels. Fnatic’s Veqaj signing has been verified by the organization following Chronicle’s departure announcement. However, MIBR’s rumored superteam around aspas remains unconfirmed—while sources like @RocketBullets have excellent track records, the zekken/Mazino/tex signings are still speculative until official announcements. TenZ acknowledging zekken rumors adds credibility, but treat these as highly probable rather than guaranteed until MIBR’s official roster reveal before VCT Kickoff on January 11, 2026.
Which Season 26 team has the best chance to win Champions 2026?
Paper Rex enters as favorites given their Masters Toronto 2025 championship, roster stability, and Pacific dominance. However, if MIBR’s rumored superteam materializes (aspas, zekken, Mazino, tex, Verno), they could challenge for the title immediately—that roster combines mechanical firepower with championship experience. Fnatic represents the dark horse: losing three 2025 Grand Finals creates immense hunger, and Boaster’s “no retirement without a trophy” mentality suggests maximum effort. Don’t sleep on NRG either—defending Champions Paris winners have championship DNA. Realistically, expect Paper Rex, MIBR (if rumors true), Fnatic, and NRG to battle for the 2026 Champions crown, with Sentinels and G2 as potential upset threats during the regular season.
