Himalayan Valorant Invitational 2026: teams, format and where to watch
Sixteen teams, double elimination and a LAN final in Kathmandu. Everything you need before the first map on 14 November.
The biggest Valorant event on the Nepali calendar returns from 14 to 16 November, with a LAN final in front of a live Kathmandu crowd for the first time since the tournament began.
Format
- 16 teams: 12 from open qualifiers, 4 invited
- Double elimination, best-of-three throughout
- Grand final best-of-five on day three
- Prize pool: NPR 15,00,000, with the winner taking 50%
Teams to watch
The invited sides include last year's champions and three organisations that have spent the year scrimming against regional teams in India and Bangladesh. Of the qualifiers, watch for squads with university backing. Two of them have their own bootcamp houses for the first time this season.
Broadcast
The main broadcast runs in Nepali, led by Kathmandu Caster, with an English co-stream. PixelPragya joins the analyst desk for the playoff days.
Group-stage matches are online; only the final day is played on LAN. The organiser has said free tickets will be released in batches, so follow our events page for the dates.
Why it matters
A healthy invitational gives Nepali teams something they've lacked: regular, high-pressure matches against each other on a broadcast large enough to attract sponsors. If the LAN draws a crowd, expect more organisers to follow.
