VCT 2026: China Kickoff sets record low international viewership since league debut

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China was the first region to complete its Kickoff tournament in the Valorant Champions Tour 2026, determining the three teams that will advance to the season’s first international event. While the level of competition remained high, the tournament recorded the lowest international viewership (outside mainland China) since the launch of the VCT China league.

VCT 2026: China Kickoff ran from January 22 to February 9 in Guangzhou, with the three qualifying teams decided through a relatively uncommon triple-elimination playoff bracket. All Gamers, XLG Esports and EDward Gaming emerged as the region’s top representatives and will travel to Santiago later this month to compete at the season’s first international event.

In total, the tournament generated over 820,000 Hours Watched, with an average viewership of exactly 8,800 concurrent viewers. Only two matches surpassed the 30,000 Peak Viewers mark, both featuring EDward Gaming against Bilibili Gaming. The first encounter went in favor of the 2024 world champions, while the second — which determined the final qualification spot for Masters Santiago — was won by Bilibili Gaming.

Considering that mainland Chinese audiences account for the vast majority of the league’s viewership, overall viewership remained relatively solid. However, the tournament still recorded the lowest Peak Viewers figure since the league’s launch.

Several factors contributed to the decline. First, overall interest appeared to be lower, with the main official broadcast channels seeing their average viewership nearly halved, falling from around 4,000 viewers to roughly 2,000. Second, the event saw reduced international exposure, as several prominent co-streamers who had covered the league in 2025 chose not to broadcast the tournament this time.

Compared specifically to previous Kickoff events, the recently concluded tournament saw a notable decline in key metrics. Peak viewership nearly halved compared to the 2025 edition, while average viewership dropped even more sharply, falling by 57%.

Part of the decline in international viewership may also reflect broader, natural audience cycles. The VCT China league saw a significant surge in global attention last year following EDward Gaming’s victory at Valorant Champions 2024, which marked a historic milestone for the region. That breakthrough helped elevate interest in the Chinese scene well beyond its domestic audience, drawing increased attention from international viewers and co-streamers alike.

At the same time, China remains firmly positioned as one of the most competitive regions in the VCT ecosystem. With Champions 2026 set to take place in Shanghai, the region will have a major opportunity to once again capture global attention. Strong performances from its representatives on the international stage could play a key role in reigniting international interest and reinforcing China’s growing presence at the highest level of competitive Valorant.