After the conclusion of both Masters events and the International Leagues’ stages, the VCT’s top-tier circuit gears up for its final event of 2026: Champions Shanghai. Esports Charts delves into the viewership numbers of these completed events compared to their 2025 counterparts, exploring the impact of the expanded schedule and changes across platforms and broadcast languages.
Collectively, the Valorant tournaments in 2026 amassed over 218 million Hours Watched, reflecting a 3.1% increase from the previous year. However, Average Viewers witnessed a 17.4% decline, with Peak Viewers also dropping by 18.7%.
The surge in Hours Watched was predominantly fueled by a 24.5% increase in Airtime. Stage 2’s revamped format introduced Challengers teams through Play-Ins, resulting in more participating teams and matches. Viewer numbers varied across regions. Americas Stage 2 saw a 33.5% rise in Hours Watched despite a 5.3% dip in Average Viewers. EMEA Stage 2, on the other hand, experienced a 6.6% increase in Hours Watched alongside a 21.5% decrease in Average Viewers.
Twitch’s share of total Hours Watched in 2026 dropped below half across the analyzed tournaments. Kick’s percentage jumped from 0.2% in 2025 to 4.6% in 2026.
Japanese and Portuguese language broadcasts saw a boost in Hours Watched by 24.6% and 20.7%, respectively. Similarly, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai language streams also witnessed an uptick in watch time.
English remained the predominant broadcast language throughout the events, though its Hours Watched decreased by approximately 3% year-over-year. Spanish and Korean language broadcasts experienced more significant declines in watch time, with drops of 23.9% and 16%, respectively.
Valorant Champions Shanghai 2026, taking place from September 24 to October 18, will set the next major milestone for VCT viewership in 2026. Stay updated on its audience statistics through Esports Charts.