Eight teams will soon clash at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany to determine which two organizations will ascend to 2026's VCT EMEA. The action will begin on October 18 with a group stage followed by two thrilling qualification matches.

Teams

The following teams have qualified to Ascension through the EMEA Challengers ecosystem and are as follows:

Three different stages of EMEA Challengers took place over the year, with multiple representatives from each subregion racking up important points to carry them over the line of qualification.

ULF Esports enter the competition through a direct bid courtesy of the third stage of EMEA Challengers, whereas the rest of the teams earned their spot thanks to the points accrued over the year. Following Team RA'AD's removal, Joblife have been slotted in as the next eligible team.

Format

The eight teams will be separated into two groups of four, where a GSL format awaits. The top two teams are determined via a double-elimination format that pits teams with the same record against each other. Winning two games will earn a ticket to an Ascension match, whereas losing two games will effectively end a team's season.

2026 EMEA Ascension Format image 2026's EMEA Ascension format. (Image: Riot Games)

Two Ascension matches await the four teams who advance out of the group stage. Teams will play a best-of-five match to determine who will ascend to next year's VCT EMEA.

All matches featured at EMEA's Ascension will be played on patch 11.07, disregarding the new competitive map pool.

Prize Pool

A total of €100,000 will be split among the eight teams in the following manner:

  • 1st-2nd: €27,500
  • 3rd-4th: €15,000
  • 5th-6th: €5,000
  • 7th-8th: €2,500

Schedule

The full EMEA Ascension schedule can be found below:

Group Stage

Ascension Matches

  • Saturday, October 25
    • First Ascension Match
  • Sunday, October 26
    • Second Ascension Match

Broadcast

EMEA Ascension will not host a live audience for the Group Stage. Instead, the first five days will produce a “casual couch broadcast” allowing for broadcast talent to relax alongside viewers. Occasional segments and interactive elements accompanied by guests, co-streamers, Ascension players, and more will spice up the viewing experience.

The final two show days will revert to a live audience at the Riot Games Arena.

Remote viewers can join the rest of the fans across multiple platforms. The main streams are:

Tickets

Following the last match of the Group Stage, Riot will release a limited number of extra tickets for the final two Ascension Matches.

Tickets will go live on October 23.