VALORANT Champions 2026, the biggest Valorant tournament of the season, has kicked off in Shanghai. Only two matches were played on opening day, but the event already peaked at more than 605,800 viewers, surpassing the first-day peak of last year’s championship in Paris.
The most watched match on the opening day of VALORANT Champions 2026 was Paper Rex vs. Team Liquid, which the Southeast Asian team won 2:1. In the day’s other match, G2 Esports defeated TYLOO 2:0.
VALORANT Champions 2026 has drawn more attention than last year’s event so far. More than 280 unique channels covered the opening day, compared with 230 last year. It is too early to judge viewership trends by broadcast language after just two matches: regional audiences tend to tune in when their favorite teams play. Still, English-language broadcasts averaged 11.8% more viewers on opening day than they did a year ago.
Experience the VALORANT Champions 2026 Grand Final with fellow fans. Find a watch party near you on Visit Esports, or host one in your city.VALORANT Champions 2026 runs from September 24 to October 18 in Shanghai. Sixteen of the world’s best teams are competing for a $2.25 million prize pool. Follow the match results and viewership statistics on the Esports Charts tournament page.
- Read also: How to watch Valorant Champions 2026: Broadcasts, dates, matches & more