CS2 Esports Schedule In 2026: All The Big Tournaments

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The year is filled with exciting tournaments, so we have lots of opportunities to enjoy the competition and learn from the best. The 2026 CS2 esports schedule includes two Majors as huge milestones.

In this article, we list all the top Counter-Strike 2 tournaments and give important details on them.

CS2 Esports Schedule for Winter 2026

Three big tournaments kick off the CS2 competitive season in 2026. They have different vibes and should treat the community to an excellent show.

Heading to 2026, Counter-Strike 2 received a change in its Active Duty pool. Anubis replaces Train, and the early events feature a quick adaptation of pro teams to this map rotation.

BLAST Bounty Winter 2026

Dates: 13 January – 25 February (online qualifier and LAN finals)
Location: Attard, Malta
Prize pool: TBA
Number of teams: 32 in the qualifier, 8 in the finals
Twitch stream: BLASTPremier
Winner: TBD

The series of Bounty tournaments by BLAST features an unusual prize pool distribution. The exact rewards depend on the opponents’ ranking.

In the online qualifier, smaller teams are seeded against big powerhouses of CS2 esports. It’s their chance to earn good cash, but making it to the finals is a great challenge. The finals happen in the BLAST studio, so there is no fiery excitement of a properly big arena.

Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026

Dates: 28 January – 8 February (Play-In, Groups, and Playoffs)
Location: Kraków, Poland
Prize pool: $1,000,000
Number of teams: 24
Twitch stream: ESLCS, ESLCSb (secondary)
Winner: TBD

For the first time ever, Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournaments have changed their location in Poland. Starting from the CS2 season 2026, it’s Kraków instead of Katowice.

Beyond this shift, we have a traditional recipe. Lower-seeded teams start from the Play-In Stage to earn their spots in Groups. The top Counter-Strike esports players are seeded directly to the Group Stage, and they have a shorter path to the Playoffs.

IEM Kraków 2026 is the first really huge tournament of the year, as the final matches happen in an arena in front of a live audience.

PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

Dates: 9 – 22 February
Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Prize pool: $625,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: PGL
Winner: TBD

Even in the Counter-Strike 2 season 2025, PGL events earned a reputation for being somewhat niche. Despite having good prize pools, they were mainly skipped by the biggest teams. Reasons for this include a tight schedule and obligations for other tournament series.

In 2026, PGL generally follows the same path. The Swiss Stage of PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 starts one day after the grand final in Kraków.

Still, the competition here should be intense and interesting. Swiss-system matches are chaotic and unpredictable. Some underdogs may strike unexpectedly and make it to the top in the tournament’s Playoffs.

CS2 Esports Schedule for Spring 2026

The spring months give CS2 teams plenty of opportunities to earn a good VRS standing and invites to the first Major of 2026.

This period features mainly tournaments of the same brands as in winter, but with some variations.

ESL Pro League Season 23

Dates: 27 February – 9 March (Online Stage 1) 13 – 15 March (Playoffs)
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Prize pool: $275,000
Number of teams: 24
Twitch stream: ESLCS, ESLCSb (secondary)
Winner: TBD

This EPL season is very different from the previous. Alongside a smaller prize pool, it features an online competition in Stage 1.

ESL Pro League Season 23 is still part of the Grand Slam VI lineup, with $1,000,000 for the team that wins the most tournaments. Such a prospect certainly attracts the biggest competitors. However, Vitality and Falcons declined their invites to EPL S23.

BLAST Open Spring 2026

Dates: 18 – 29 March
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands (Playoffs)
Prize pool: $400,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: BLASTPremier
Winner: TBD

The format of the BLAST Open series features a Group Stage to be played in the Copenhagen studio and the Playoffs in front of the crowd in Rotterdam. The Group Stage matches are double-elimination. The Playoffs are about winning or being kicked out.

It’s basically a classic Counter-Strike esports tournament. Top teams participate in BLAST events to battle for the money reward of the Frequent Flyers Program—it offers $2,000,000 in 2026.

PGL Bucharest 2026

Dates: 3 – 11 April
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Prize pool: $625,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: PGL
Winner: TBD

The PGL tournament in Bucharest generally repeats the format of the Cluj-Napoca event. We can witness five Swiss-system rounds ahead of the Playoffs. The final brackets have a match for third place.

One big difference is that PGL Bucharest 2026 has four regional qualifiers. Smaller CS2 esports teams can prove their mettle in the matches versus mighty opponents.

Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2026

Dates: 13 – 19 April
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Prize pool: $300,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: ESLCS, ESLCSb (secondary)
Winner: TBD

Esports events in Brazil are always a wonderful treat, full of splendid emotions. People here are very passionate about Counter-Strike, and the recent successes of FURIA only intensify this fire.

IEM returns to Rio! The event has a slightly different format from one in Kraków. There are no Play-In matches, and the competition starts from the double-elimination groups. Still, the organizers allow wildcard teams to try to battle on the big stage: via global and American qualifiers.

BLAST Rivals Spring 2026

Dates: 29 April – 3 May
Location: Fort Worth, USA
Prize pool: $350,000
Number of teams: 8
Twitch stream: BLASTPremier
Winner: TBD

The format of the Rivals tournament series by BLAST is all about top-level clashes. The biggest teams often face each other throughout the competitive season. Now, their rivalry has no distractions—no smaller contenders, only the best eight teams from VRS.

It’s a rare opportunity to host one of the main CS2 esports tournaments in the United States. We have only two such events in the 2026 schedule.

PGL Astana 2026

Dates: 7 – 17 May
Location: Astana, Kazakhstan
Prize pool: $800,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: PGL
Winner: TBD

The 2025 event in Astana was filled with a unique local atmosphere. Even James Banks, the popular host, was wearing traditional Kazakh clothes during the final show to highlight the uniqueness of this place. We can expect the same level of authenticity this year as well.

The popularity of Counter-Strike 2 has increased significantly in Kazakhstan thanks to the successes of Danil “molodoy” Golubenko, who comes from this country. The player joined FURIA in 2025, won a few big tournaments with this team, and was named the rookie of the year at the HLTV Awards 2025.

Beyond this, the competitive format repeats PGL Bucharest 2026. The prize pool still can’t fully pull this event to the top—PGL Astana 2026 weirdly happens at the same time as IEM Atlanta 2026.

Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta 2026

Dates: 11 – 17 May
Location: Atlanta, USA
Prize pool: $300,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: ESLCS, ESLCSb (secondary)
Winner: TBD

It’s the second and final big CS2 esports event in 2026 that’s happening in the United States. This time, the competition is powered by ESL and their tournament series Intel Extreme Masters.

In addition to the global and regional VRS placements, Counter-Strike teams can join IEM Atlanta 2026 via qualifiers. The format is generally the same as IEM in Rio.

CS Asia Championships 2026

Dates: 19 – 24 May
Location: Shanghai, China
Prize pool: $400,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: PGL
Winner: TBD

It’s a rare occasion when a top-tier CS2 tournament is organized by a different brand than the big three. CS Asia Championships 2026 is carried by the Chinese company Perfect World, even if the English stream is on the PGL channel.

It’s the final event ahead of the first Major in 2026. This makes CS Asia Championships 2026 an important chance for the top teams to settle in their best form.

Also, Counter-Strike is coming to China, which feels great for this dedicated community.

CS2 Esports Schedule for Summer 2026

This set of Counter-Strike tournaments in 2026 starts with an extremely exciting Major. Then, after a short break, pro teams return to the second phase of the yearly competition.

In general, summer is not too busy with CS2 events. However, the Esports World Cup 2026 brings us enough competitive excitement.

Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major 2026

Dates: 2 – 21 June
Location: Cologne, Germany
Prize pool: $1,250,000
Number of teams: 32
Twitch stream: ESLCS, ESLCSb (secondary)
Winner: TBD

The cathedral of Counter-Strike hosts a CS2 Major in 2026—the previous one in Cologne was in 2016. This tournament concludes the first half of the yearly competition. The trophy at IEM Cologne Major 2026 is extremely prestigious, as it’s a way for pro teams to write their names down in history books.

Arguably, the main intrigue of this event is whirling around Team Vitality. These players won two Majors in 2025, and claiming the third one would be a powerful statement.

IEM Cologne Major 2026 is based on a traditional extended format. Depending on their VRS placement, teams start from one of the three stages to fight for Playoff spots.

BLAST Bounty Summer 2026

Dates: 21 July – 2 August (online qualifier and LAN finals)
Location: Attard, Malta
Prize pool: TBA
Number of teams: 32
Twitch stream: BLASTPremier
Winner: TBD

The second Bounty-format tournament by BLAST doesn’t change the location or even its role in the CS2 esports calendar of 2026. It’s an opener to launch the competition after a post-Major break.

Roster changes have a chance to prove their effectiveness in an online qualifier. The top eight teams play in the BLAST studio—to start LAN events in the second half of 2026.

CS2 Esports World Cup 2026

Dates: 12 – 23 August
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Prize pool: $2,000,000
Number of teams: 32
Twitch stream: EWC
Winner: TBD

This tournament aims to be the biggest one for Counter-Strike 2 in 2026, even without official support from Valve. The Esports World Cup 2026 has a mind-blowing $2,000,000 prize pool. Also, esports organizations participate in a club competition to win even more for succeeding in a variety of titles.

The competitive format is pretty unique. Thirty-two teams are divided into four groups for double-elimination brackets. The Playoffs are for the top sixteen. In addition to the VRS placements, teams can participate in the CS2 EWC 2026 via an open qualifier.

BLAST Open Fall 2026

Dates: 26 August – 6 September
Location: TBD, Europe (Playoffs)
Prize pool: $400,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: BLASTPremier
Winner: TBD

With no special rules for money division or team seeding, the BLAST Open tournaments bring the vibes of traditional competition to various locations. After the Group stage in the Copenhagen studio, the top teams play in front of a big crowd.

Four teams qualify for this Counter-Strike 2 esports tournament from the lower-tier BLAST Rising series.

CS2 Esports Schedule for Autumn 2026

The final set of tournaments in the Counter-Strike 2 calendar for 2026 is an intense preparation for the second Major of the year.

Some pretty interesting events happen in autumn, thanks to their locations and tournament organizers.

StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026

Dates: 17 – 20 September
Location: TBD, Europe
Prize pool: $250,000
Number of teams: 8
Twitch stream: StarLadder_cs_en
Winner: TBD

In 2025, we witnessed the return of StarLadder as a tournament organizer in Counter-Strike esports. In addition to the Budapest Major, the company gathered teams for a StarSeries tournament.

This year, the general competitive schedule feels better organized, and StarSeries Fall 2026 comes with gaps before and after other events. This increases the chance that big teams can join. Previously, it was NAVI to crush generally less powerful opponents.

ESL Pro League Season 24

Dates: 3 – 11 October
Location: Katowice, Poland
Prize pool: $300,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: ESLCS, ESLCSb (secondary)
Winner: TBD

Spodek Arena in Katowice is not totally gone from the competitive CS2 schedule. In 2026, it hosts the matches of ESL Pro League Season 24.

For the second such event of the year, ESL goes for the traditional LAN competition. Four teams from the regional ESL Challenger Leagues join competitors with high VRS global placements.

Thunderpick World Championship 2026

Dates: 14 – 18 October
Location: Malta
Prize pool: $500,000
Number of teams: 8
Twitch stream: Thunderpicktv
Winner: TBD

It’s a rare occasion that a betting platform goes beyond sponsoring a team or an event and organizes its own tournament series. Thunderpick does this!

The schedule for this period becomes intense, and some big teams may skip TWC 2026—like they did last year. The eight participants battle for a good prize pool. Despite this small lineup, the event features two double elimination groups and limited Playoffs.

PGL Masters Bucharest 2026

Dates: 24 – 31 October
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Prize pool: $625,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: PGL
Winner: TBD

A PGL CS2 event returns to Bucharest. These matches happen in a studio: both the Swiss-system and the Playoff stages.

Four teams from regional qualifiers join 12 participants with high VRS global placements. Small gaps between big tournaments and distances between their locations may force top players to choose in favor of IEM China. PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 may again become a chance for smaller organizations to shoot to the stars.

Intel Extreme Masters China 2026

Dates: 2 – 8 November
Location: TBA, China
Prize pool: $300,000
Number of teams: 16
Twitch stream: ESLCS, ESLCSb (secondary)
Winner: TBD

Big Counter-Strike heads to China once again! This IEM tournament has a qualifier especially for Asia, so local teams will enjoy a good opportunity to perform in front of their home crowd.

It’s the only Intel Extreme Masters event in the second half of 2026. The format is identical to events in Atlanta and Rio.

BLAST Rivals Fall 2026

Dates: 11 – 15 November
Location: Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong
Prize pool: $350,000
Number of teams: 8
Twitch stream: BLASTPremier
Winner: TBD

The tournament completes the CS2 esports 2026 circle by BLAST. The number of teams is eight, which is the usual format of the Rivals series.

There are no qualifiers for BLAST Rivals Fall 2026. Only the top VRS global teams can join. In 2025, some really big organizations used this opportunity to flex their competitive muscles right before the final Major of the year.

PGL Major Singapore 2026

Dates: 25 November – 13 December
Location: Kallang, Singapore
Prize pool: $1,250,000
Number of teams: 32
Twitch stream: PGL
Winner: TBD

It’s the second CS2 Major of 2026 and an epic conclusion of the yearly competition. PGL hosts this Valve-sponsored event, which is a nice change of pace for the brand after struggling to bring top teams into their events.

The initial stages are for lower-seeded teams, so we can see some fresh underdogs battling for their big breakthrough. Stage 3 is where the real trophy contenders join the party. The Major Counter-Strike Playoffs in a huge arena deliver one of the best shows any esports title can offer!

That’s all on the Counter-Strike 2 esports schedule in 2026. Alongside the competitive excitement, we expect Valve to give us interesting game updates—and sure, amazing CS2 skins.

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