Bruce Dias 
Counter-Strike 2 2026 will be a very hectic and highly competitive season. As a result of numerous major organizers such as BLAST, ESL, PGL, StarLadder, Skyesports, and others scheduling their high-profile tournaments in various parts of the world, a fan can expect a year full of action, nonstop international rivalries, and a few surprises.
Next up is a monthly rundown of every fixed CS2 event in 2026, including dates, prize pools, and brief commentary highlighting major storylines to watch.
January 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
- Date: Jan 12–25
- Location: Malta
- Prize Pool: $625,000
- Teams: 32
The Iberian Sea region in the winter, of course, would not be complete without top CS2 teams fighting it out in Malta for the season opener. Moreover, the BLAST Bounty concept greatly facilitates the development of the scenario, where the team that kills the highest-ranked opponent gets extra money, so the first rounds are full of unexpected upsets.
IEM Kraków 2026
- Date: Jan 28 – Feb 8
- Location: Kraków, Poland
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
- Teams: 24
The IEM Kraków CS2 season is on its way to a full season of historic stops on the circuit. The Polish crowd is known for being the loudest and most energetic, and this event always results in an intense atmosphere. Hardcore fans of the competitive scene usually take an interest in CS2 odds at Thunderpick, especially during these IEM events early in the year, when new rosters are still in flux and therefore highly unpredictable.
February 2026
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
- Date: Feb 9–23
- Location: Cluj-Napoca
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
- Teams: 16
Romania will be the venue for the first major PGL tournament of the year. It’s a reminder of the legendary 2015 Major; the event will be remembered forever. This event is packed with tight competition and is also expected to be one of the cleanest seasons of CS2 gameplay, with a big prize pool and fewer teams.
ESL Pro League Season 23
- Date: Feb 27 – Mar 15
- Location: TBA
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Teams: 24
The long-running Counter-Strike league is back with its 23rd season. EPL stays the main step on the ladder teams must take to show their ability and get into the elite tournaments of the following year.
March 2026
BLAST Open Spring 2026
- Date: Mar 16–29
- Location: Rotterdam
- Prize Pool: $1,100,000
- Teams: 16
Rotterdam is where BLAST’s Spring Open will be held; thus, tier-one staples and hungry newcomers make a perfect lineup for a balanced competition. One of the season’s premier storylines is usually the BLAST Open events, where new faces and trends often emerge.
Skyesports Event #1 2026
- Date: Mar 30 – Apr 12
- Location: TBA
- Prize Pool: TBA
- Teams: TBA
Skyesports is not stopping its global CS2 expansion trend and its first event in 2026 is scheduled for a mid-spring showdown. The details are still coming out, but Skyesports has already been recognized for its high production value and focus on the regional aspect.
April 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
- Date: Apr 3–13
- Location: Bucharest
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
- Teams: 16
PGL brings the fire back home with a fantastic Bucharest event. You can anticipate clean observing, well-constructed storytelling, and very tight matches among European teams competing for the first-season title of power.
IEM Brazil 2026
- Date: Apr 13–19
- Location: Brazil
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Teams: 16
There is simply no match for the energy of the Brazilian crowds. The stop is great for the most passionate fans and for the highest level of upset. On the local turf, Brazilian teams almost always are able to excel beyond expectations.
FISSURE Playground 3
- Date: Apr 20–26
- Location: TBA
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Teams: 16
The FISSURE Playground series is not only packed with tournaments but also the fan base keeps getting larger. The organization is a winner in the viewer’s eyes because it blends entertainment with competition.
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
- Date: Apr 27 – May 3
- Location: Texas
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Teams: 8
Rivals began as a regional clash compact with explosive events, and it is primarily known for rivalry-driven matchups and the potential of upsets.
May 2026
PGL Astana 2026
- Date: May 7–18
- Location: Astana
- Prize Pool: $1,600,000
- Teams: 16
This is the most significant lead right here that the largest prize pool will be outside the Majors. PGL Astana can tentatively serve as a defining mid-season tournament.
IEM USA 2026
- Date: May 11–17
- Location: U.S.
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Teams: 16
IEM Global Circuit is coming back to North America. Since the release of CS2, the U.S. fanbase has been steadily growing, and as a result, this event is considered to be the most anticipated in the region.
CS Asia Championships 2026
- Date: May 18–24
- Location: Shanghai
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Teams: 16
Asia is not stopping and keeps building a solid global CS2 esports presence. This, in itself, is an excellent impetus for international teams to attend the event, while it is also a support for the new, talented Asian players to be discovered.
StarLadder StarSeries May 2026
- Date: May 25–31
- Location: TBA
- Prize Pool: TBA
- Teams: 16
With the StarSeries by StarLadder, the innovations are over, and we are back to the nostalgic format of the original series.
June 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
- Date: Jun 2–21
- Location: Cologne
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
- Teams: 32
The first Major of the year will again feature an overnight wait in the Cathedral of Counter-Strike. So, get ready for loud fans, heartwarming storylines, and an unforgettable stage.
July 2026
FISSURE Playground 4
- Date: Jul 13–19
- Location: TBA
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
- Date: Jul 20 – Aug 2
- Location: Malta
- Prize Pool: $650,000
- Teams: 32
BLAST returns to Malta with a summer-themed edition of its bounty format.
August 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
- Date: Aug 10–23
- Location: Riyadh
- Prize Pool: TBA
- Teams: TBA
BLAST Open Fall 2026
- Date: Aug 24 – Sep 6
- Location: TBA
- Prize Pool: $1,100,000
- Teams: 16
September 2026
Besides events happening one after the other, the month of September showed the following:
- Skyesports Event #2 2026 (Sep 7–20)
- FISSURE Playground 5 (Sep 7–13)
- StarLadder StarSeries September 2026 (Sep 11–20)
- ESL Pro League Season 24 (Sep 21 – Oct 11, Katowice)
This group of activities will have a significant impact on the ranking of the season’s final matches.
October 2026
Besides these three events, PGL will host numerous other minor tournaments and league matches throughout October:
- PGL October 2026 (Oct 1–11)
- Eden Esports Forge of Legends 2026 (Oct 13–18)
- PGL Belgrade 2026 (Oct 22 – Nov 1)
Non-major events like the Belgrade event will have a significant impact on the entire next year.
November 2026
IEM China 2026
- Date: Nov 2–8
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
- Date: Nov 9–15
CS2 Major #2
- Date: Nov 25 – Dec 13
- Location: TBA
The season closes with the second CS2 Major of 2026 for now, setting the stage for the next competitive era, and the fans still wait for the December announcements.
