When Does Valorant Act 3 Start?

Valorant 2026 Act 3: Start Date, Map Pool and Battlepass Leaks

Gaming is one of the biggest hobbies in history, and for some of us, who live and breathe Valorant, the end of the act can be a stressing date. Keeping up with Riot Games’ seasonal schedule can feel like a full-time job, even if you're experienced. Now, if you’re relatively new to the tactical chaos of Valorant, the entire ranked system, from understanding MMR to tracking when seasons actually begin and end, can be even more confusing.

Between figuring out the shifting meta, learning complex agent lineups, and grinding the competitive ladder, climbing the ranks takes serious time. In fact, if you find yourself stuck in "Elo hell" with toxic teammates, and you haven't picked up a professional Valorant boosting partner to play duo with, then you're missing out on the fastest, stress-free way to break through those stubborn plateaus. It’s the ultimate shortcut to bypassing the grind, saving your sanity, and finally playing at the competitive tier you actually deserve.

But whether you are solo-queuing your way to Radiant or getting a little help from the pros, you need to know how the seasonal calendar impacts your climb. Here is everything you need to know about the transition into Valorant 2026 Act 3.

To plan your ranked journey, it helps to look at the timeline. Season 2026 Act 1 officially kicked off on January 7 in the Americas (January 8 globally) and wrapped up on March 18. We immediately transitioned into Act 2, which is currently running its course.

Valorant 2026 Act 3 Start Date Released

Valorant Season 2026 Act 3 will officially start on April 29, 2026. Following Riot's standard rollout, this final act of the current episode is expected to last for roughly eight weeks, putting the projected end date around June 24, 2026. Act 3 will feature a brand new melee weapon, discord integration for Valorant, and a new battlepass.

Map Pool Changes: Welcome Back, Ascent

A new Act means a fresh competitive landscape, and Riot is shaking up the map rotation once again.

Say your goodbyes to Bind, as it will be stepping out of the active competitive queue for the time being. To fill the void, a massive fan-favorite is returning to the spotlight: Ascent.

The official V26 Act 3 Map Pool will feature:

• Ascent
• Split
• Pearl
• Fracture
• Haven
• Sunset
• Breeze
• Lotus

Battlepass Leaks: New Melee Weapon

Aside from the rank reset, the Battlepass is always the biggest hype generator of a new Act. Thanks to prominent leaker Valhabzi, we already have some incredibly exciting details regarding the Act 3 Battlepass—specifically the tier 50 melee weapon.

Historically, Riot has locked Battlepass melee weapons to a single default colorway. What you saw was exactly what you got. However, leaks confirm that the Act 3 melee will feature four unique, upgradeable color variants.

This is a massive leap in value for budget-conscious players. Having Radianite-upgradeable variants means you can finally customize your BP knife to perfectly match your favorite weapon skins and player cards without having to drop premium Valorant Points (VP) on an expensive bundle.

Right now, the exact weapon type is still a mystery. We could be getting a sleek karambit, a heavy broadsword, a baseball bat, or something completely unexpected.

Will it have custom animations?

Typically, Battlepass melees lack the flashy VFX and custom equip animations found in premium bundles. While the four color variants are confirmed, we’ll likely have to wait for Riot’s official trailer to see if they’ve added any special visual flair to this highly anticipated weapon.

How Long do You Have to Finish Your Battlepass?

With Act 2 officially closing its doors on April 29th, your window to finish the current Battlepass is quickly running out. If you’ve fallen behind, right now is the time to log in and start aggressively knocking out your stacked weekly challenges.

More importantly, the clock is ticking on your competitive rank. The end-of-act rush is notoriously chaotic, filled with desperate players scrambling for last-minute wins. If you want to avoid the headache entirely, securing a premium Valorant boost is the absolute smartest move you can make. It’s the perfect, hassle-free solution to guarantee you hit your dream rank, secure your seasonal gun buddy, and walk into Act 3 with total confidence!

 

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