VALORANT Champions Shanghai begins on September 24, 2026, and Riot Games has confirmed a substantial set of free in-game rewards spanning broadcast Drops, Twitch Shotcall challenges and Pick’Ems. For players who follow esports cosmetics, this is one of the clearest reward opportunities of the current VALORANT season because several items can be earned simply by watching or participating through Riot’s official systems.
The key point is that these are Riot-account rewards, not promotional codes for resale. Players need to use the supported official channels and make sure the correct Riot account is connected where required.
Champions Shanghai watch Drops
Riot has confirmed two straightforward broadcast Drops for Champions Shanghai.
- Prepared Title: watch for at least 30 minutes during the Groups and Playoffs stages.
- Stamp of Approval Spray: watch for at least 30 minutes during the Grand Final.
These are useful targets for players who do not want to engage with prediction systems. Riot’s announcement frames them as exclusive in-game rewards available through live viewing, so players should make sure they are watching through an eligible official broadcast with their account correctly connected.
Champions Shanghai runs from September 24 through October 18 according to Riot’s official 2026 esports schedule, giving players multiple opportunities to qualify for the Groups and Playoffs viewing reward before the Grand Final.
Shotcall rewards on Twitch
Champions Shanghai also includes Shotcall, Riot’s live prediction experience on Twitch desktop. Instead of only watching, players predict maps, rounds and key moments during matches and earn points for correct calls.
Riot lists three Shotcall rewards:
- The Catch Title: reach 50 Shotcall points during Champions Shanghai.
- Crab Buddy Gun Buddy: reach 300 Shotcall points.
- Trophy Player Card: finish in the top 3% on any map during Champions Shanghai.
Shotcall is available through the official VCT Twitch broadcast on desktop. That desktop requirement matters: players who normally watch through a television app, mobile app or another platform should not assume those sessions will count toward Shotcall progression.
Champions Shanghai Pick’Ems rewards
Pick’Ems powered by AWS also returns for Champions Shanghai. Players predict tournament results and are rewarded according to participation and performance.
Riot’s confirmed cumulative Pick’Ems rewards are:
- Participation: “Calculated” Title.
- Top 50%: Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy.
- Top 20%: Pick’Ems Master: Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy.
- Perfect Picks: “100%” Title.
Because the rewards are cumulative, a player who finishes in the top 20% also receives the participation and top-50% rewards.
The Groups Stage Pick’Ems opened earlier in September and lock on September 24 at approximately 2:10 AM PT, around ten minutes after the first Champions Shanghai match begins. Playoffs Pick’Ems open on October 4 after the Draw Show and lock on October 7 at approximately 2:10 AM PT.
If you missed the Groups deadline, the Playoffs phase still provides another opportunity to participate.
Who is eligible?
Riot says Champions Shanghai Pick’Ems requires a valid Riot Account and is available in most regions, with exclusions including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Sudan, Venezuela, Syria, China, Quebec and Myanmar, as well as anywhere the offer is void. Reward eligibility can also vary because of local rules.
Players should check Riot’s official Champions Shanghai Watch and Earn page rather than relying on a generic reward graphic, especially if they live in a region with promotion restrictions.
Are these VALORANT codes?
No transferable code is described in Riot’s announcement. Nothing in the official Champions Shanghai Watch and Earn information indicates that the Prepared Title, Stamp of Approval Spray, Shotcall items or Pick’Ems rewards are issued as transferable redemption codes.
They are participation rewards tied to Riot’s viewing and prediction systems. That distinction is important for CODSKINS customers because transferable DLC codes operate differently from account-bound esports Drops.
CODSKINS does not currently have a dedicated VALORANT collection, so we are not creating a product listing around these rewards. If Riot or a partner later launches a genuine transferable promotional code, hardware bundle or retailer reward, that would be a different opportunity.
Why Champions Shanghai rewards are worth watching
Esports reward programmes often become high-intent search topics because players need quick answers about how long to watch, what account needs linking and which rewards are still obtainable. Champions Shanghai combines three systems at once: standard Drops, interactive Twitch Shotcall rewards and Pick’Ems.
That gives players multiple ways to earn cosmetics without purchasing an Item Shop bundle, while also making it easy for incorrect social posts to mix the requirements together.
The simplest summary is:
- Watch Groups or Playoffs for 30 minutes for the Prepared Title.
- Watch the Grand Final for 30 minutes for the Stamp of Approval Spray.
- Use Shotcall on Twitch desktop for the Shotcall Title, Gun Buddy and Player Card.
- Enter Pick’Ems for the Calculated Title and performance-based Stone of Heaven rewards.
Confirmed information vs rumours
Everything listed above comes directly from Riot Games’ September 23 Champions Shanghai Watch and Earn announcement. We have not included leaked skins, unannounced redeem codes or community claims about extra Drops.
If Riot adds new sponsor rewards, physical-event codes or partner promotions during Champions Shanghai, CODSKINS will cover them separately rather than silently adding unverified items to this guide.
For other transferable gaming rewards and promotional DLC, browse CODSKINS’ Other Games – DLC, Digital Codes & Rewards collection. We will continue monitoring VALORANT throughout Champions Shanghai for any genuine code-based opportunities.
