There are dozens of nail-biting Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournaments for esports fans to follow in 2026. The year is absolutely packed with the best players in the world filling the servers and landing headshots.
To keep this guide concise and manageable, we only listed tournaments that are Tier 1 events, carry significant VRS weight, or both. Most are played on LAN, with many featuring arena playoff stages in front of live crowds.
Please note: We also feature many smaller tournaments and regional leagues in our CS2 betting section.
CS2 Tournaments 2026
BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1
Kicking off the year with a bang, BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 saw teams first compete in an online Closed Qualifier stage. With the dynamic prize pool, teams earned $377,500 from Jan. 13 to 18, before the top eight moved on to the main event.
Underdogs PARIVISION reverse-swept Team Spirit 2–1 in the first round, beat FURIA 2–0 in the Semifinals, and Team Falcons 3–0 in the Grand Final.
- Location: BLAST Arena Studios in Attard, Malta
- Start Date: Jan. 22, 2026
- End Date: Jan. 25, 2026
- Teams: 8
- Prize Pool: $1,150,000
- Winner: PARIVISION
IEM Kraków 2026
The third chapter of the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) winter series didn’t disappoint. Replacing IEM Katowice on the competitive calendar, IEM Kraków 2026 saw 24 teams compete to become the first to lift the new trophy.
Team Vitality topped Group B with a clean 3–0 record, earning a spot directly in the Semifinals. apEX’s men took down MOUZ 2–0, and in the Grand Final, bested FURIA with a 3–1 score to lift the IEM Kraków 2026 trophy.
- Location: TAURON Arena Kraków in Poland
- Start Date: Jan. 28, 2026
- End Date: Feb. 8, 2026
- Teams: 24
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
- Winner: Team Vitality
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 kicked off its Group Stage on Feb. 14, 2026. Both Team Falcons and Team Vitality were unstoppable in the Group Stage, advancing unscathed with perfect 3–0 records.
In the Quarterfinals, Team Vitality made quick work of Turkish powerhouse Aurora Gaming with a 2–0 sweep, and repeated that unreal performance against The MongolZ for another 2–0 win in the Semifinals. In the Grand Final, Team Vitality smashed PARIVISION 3–0 to lift their first PGL trophy.
- Location: BT Arena in Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Start Date: Feb. 14, 2026
- End Date: Feb. 22, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
- Winner: Team Vitality
ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals
After two grueling online stages, 32 teams were whittled down to just eight. The final eight teams competed on LAN in the ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals.
NAVI ran through the competition, first convincingly defeating The MongolZ 2–0. In the Semifinals, NAVI took down FUT Esports 2–1. Facing Aurora Gaming in the Grand Final, it was NAVI who came out on top with a 3–1 score to lift their first big event trophy of the year.
- Location: Annexet in Stockholm, Sweden
- Start Date: March 13, 2026
- End Date: March 15, 2026
- Teams: 8
- Prize Pool: $776,000
- Winner: NAVI
BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026
Gunning for their third trophy, Team Vitality decimated everyone in Group B for a clean 3–0 record (6–0 map score), earning a spot in the Semifinals of the BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Playoffs Stage.
Team Vitality delivered an utterly convincing 2–0 performance against Aurora Gaming in the Semifinals. Facing NAVI in the Grand Final, Team Vitality didn’t pull any punches and won 3-0, which meant that they went the entire tournament without dropping a single map.
- Locations: Group Stage at BLAST Studios in Copenhagen. Playoffs Stage at Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Start Date: March 18, 2026
- End Date: March 29, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,100,000
- Winner: Team Vitality
PGL Bucharest 2026
On LAN in Romania, several top CS2 teams competed for their share of a huge prize pool. FUT Esports and Astralis clawed their way to the top of the pack during the Group Stage, boasting clean 3–0 records.
In the Quarterfinals of the Playoffs Stage, FUT Esports eliminated B8 with a 2–0 score, and repeated the process against The MongolZ with a clean 2–0 sweep in the Semifinals. Astralis and FUT Esports clashed in the Grand Final, where FUT Esports emerged victorious with a 3–1 scoreline to lift their first-ever top-tier trophy.
- Location: PGL Studio in Bucharest, Romania
- Start Date: April 4, 2026
- End Date: April 11, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
- Winner: FUT Esports
IEM Rio 2026
With the ESL Grand Slam on the line for Team Vitality, apEX’s men made it out of the Group Stage of IEM Rio 2026 after a close loss against Team Falcons, earning a spot in the Quarterfinals.
Team Vitality made a dominant run by beating NAVI 2–0, FURIA 2–0, and Team Spirit 3–0 in the Grand Final to claim the trophy and the coveted gold bars of the ESL Grand Slam, representing an extra $1 million in prize money.
- Location: Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Start Date: April 13, 2026
- End Date: April 19, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Winner: Team Vitality
BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1
Based on VRS rankings as of March 2, 2026, the BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1 event will see eight top teams compete.
Featuring both a Group Stage with a GSL-style format and a single-elimination Playoffs Stage, BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 1 promises non-stop action. All matches are BO3, except for the Grand Final, which is BO5.
- Location: Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, United States
- Start Date: April 29, 2026
- End Date: May 3, 2026
- Teams: 8
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
PGL Astana 2026
Boasting a huge $1,600,000 prize pool, PGL Astana 2026 will see 16 teams duke it out at the Barys Arena venue in Kazakhstan. The tournament runs concurrently with IEM Atlanta 2026.
The action begins in the Group Stage (Swiss System format), followed by a single-elimination Playoffs Stage. The Grand Final is BO5, and all other matches are BO3. Team invites were based on VRS rankings as of March 2, 2026.
- Location: Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan
- Start Date: May 7, 2026
- End Date: May 17, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,600,000
IEM Atlanta 2026
Following Team Vitality’s victory in Rio de Janeiro, IEM Atlanta 2026 marks the start of the ESL Grand Slam VII. The tournament will take place live on LAN at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta.
Featuring 16 teams with invites based on VRS rankings as of Feb. 2, 2026, IEM Atlanta promises top-tier esports action aplenty. There’s a Group Stage (GSL-style format) and a single-elimination Playoffs Stage.
All matches are BO3, except the Grand Final, which is BO5. The tournament runs alongside PGL Astana 2026, so attendance from top teams is split between these two events.
- Location: Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, United States
- Start Date: May 11, 2026
- End Date: May 17, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
Asian Champions League 2026
Considered a Tier 1 event from organizer Hero Esports, the Asian Champions League 2026 will see 16 teams from the region compete for their share of a $150,000 prize pool, and one coveted spot at the Esports World Cup.
The Group Stage features a double-elimination format with two groups of eight teams each, with all matches BO3. The winners of each group will face off in the BO5 Grand Final at the LOOP Center.
- Location: LOOP Center in Shanghai, China
- Start Date: May 11, 2026
- End Date: May 17, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $150,000
CS Asia Championships 2026
The CS Asia Championships 2026 is the final Tier 1 event before the IEM Cologne Major, making the tournament incredibly important for the top teams to show solid form. Based on VRS rankings as of Feb. 2, 2026, 16 teams received invites.
CS Asia Championships 2026 kicks off with a GSL-style Group Stage: opening matches are BO1, and all others are BO3. The top six teams will compete in the single-elimination Playoffs Stage, with a BO5 Grand Final and BO3 Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
- Location: Shanghai, China
- Start Date: May 19, 2026
- End Date: May 24, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Marking the end of the first competitive season of the year, the Cologne Major 2026, also known as the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike,” is an unmissable event. A whopping 32 teams qualified for this prestigious event via the VRS rankings as of April 6, 2026.
The IEM Cologne Major 2026 features four stages of competition. The first three stages have 16 Team Swiss System formats, in which the top eight teams advance to the next stage. In the Playoffs Stage, we’ll see the final eight teams fight in a single-elimination bracket, where Quarterfinals and Semifinals matches are BO3, and the Grand Final is BO5.
- Location: LANXESS arena in Cologne, Germany
- Start Date: June 2, 2026
- End Date: June 21, 2026
- Teams: 32
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
XSE Pro League 2026
From Chinese tournament organizer Xinsai Esports comes XSE Pro League 2026, a significant LAN event scheduled to run from late June to mid-July. Based on the VRS rankings as of May 4, 16 teams will compete.
The action begins with a 16 Team Swiss System format, with elimination and advancement matches BO3 and all other matches BO1. Eight teams will advance to the Playoffs Stage, which features a single-elimination bracket and BO3 matches.
- Location: China, venue/city TBD
- Start Date: June 29, 2026
- End Date: July 12, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2
Eight of the best teams in the world will compete at BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2, invited based on VRS standings as of June 1. The tournament features a dynamic prize pool in which teams take down opponents to earn “bounties,” thereby increasing their own bounty value.
An online qualifier is scheduled to take place from July 21 to 26, before the main event, which runs from July 30 to August 2. The eight qualified teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket, with a BO5 Grand Final, and all other matches BO3.
- Location: BLAST Arena Studios in Attard, Malta
- Start Date: July 30, 2026
- End Date: August 2, 2026
- Teams: 8
- Prize Pool: TBD
Esports World Cup 2026
As one of the biggest tournaments of the year, the CS2 event at Esports World Cup will feature a massive $2 million prize pool and 32 teams competing for glory.
Team invites are based on VRS rankings as of June 1, 2026. Esports World Cup 2026 begins with a Group Stage, featuring four GSL-style groups of eight teams each. The top four teams from each group advance to the Playoffs Stage. In the single-elimination Playoffs Stage, all matches are BO3, except for the Grand Final, which is BO5.
- Location: Boulevard Riyadh City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Start Date: Aug. 12, 2026
- End Date: Aug. 23, 2026
- Teams: 32
- Prize Pool: $2,000,000
BLAST Open Porto 2026
The latest entry in the S-Tier BLAST Open series will see 16 teams (VRS invite date of July 6) fight in the Group Stage, with two groups of eight in a GSL-style format. When the dust settles over the BLAST Studios venue in Copenhagen, four teams from each group will punch their tickets to Portugal.
BLAST Open Porto 2026’s single-elimination bracket Playoffs Stage takes place at the Super Bock Arena in Porto, Portugal. Quarterfinals and Semifinals are BO3, while the Grand Final is BO5.
- Location: Group Stage at BLAST Studios in Copenhagen. Playoffs Stage at Super Bock Arena in Porto, Portugal
- Start Date: Aug. 24, 2026
- End Date: Sept. 6, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,100,000
FISSURE Playground #5
Due to “logistical conflict in the competitive calendar,” FISSURE Playground #3 and #4 were canceled. However, the show will go on with FISSURE Playground #5, which might be renamed at a later date.
Teams will be invited based on their VRS ranking as of Aug. 6, 2026. The action begins in the Group Stage, with two groups of eight teams duking it out in the GSL-style format. Six teams will earn spots in the single-elimination Playoffs Stage, where Quarterfinals and Semifinals matches are BO3, and the Grand Final is BO5.
- Location: Shenzhen, China
- Start Date: Sept. 7, 2026
- End Date: Sept. 13, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026
Eight teams will compete at the StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 event, taking place on LAN in Europe. Five teams will receive invites based on the VRS rankings of July 6. Preceding the tournament, three online qualifiers (South America, North America, and Europe) will take place.
The tournament format is a no-nonsense single-elimination bracket, where all matches are BO3.
- Location: Europe, TBD
- Start Date: Sept. 17, 2026
- End Date: Sept. 20, 2026
- Teams: 8
- Prize Pool: $500,000
ESL Pro League Season 24
ESL Pro League Season 24 marks a welcome change for the long-running series. Instead of two online stages, the tournament will begin with a 16 Team Swiss System format Group Stage on LAN. Matches in this stage of the competition are all BO3, and the top eight teams advance to the next stage.
The ESL Pro League Season 24 Playoffs Stage will see eight teams compete live at the Spodek Arena, which previously hosted the IEM Katowice series. In the single-elimination bracket, Quarterfinals and Semifinals matches are BO3, and the Grand Final is BO5.
- Location: Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland
- Start Date: Oct. 3, 2026
- End Date: Oct. 11, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
Thunderpick World Championship 2026
Our Thunderpick World Championship (TWC) 2026 schedule is packed with exciting regional qualifiers and the Closed Qualifier, leading to Malta, where the TWC 2026 Finals will take place on LAN.
The event heads to Malta on Oct. 12, with media day planned for Oct. 13 before the top-tier CS2 esports action begins with the Group Stage (Oct. 14 to 16). In the Group Stage, four teams per group will battle through a GSL-style double-elimination bracket. All matches in this stage are BO3. The top two teams from each group advance to the Playoffs Stage.
Finishing off the TWC 2026 Finals in style, the top four teams will compete in a thrilling single-elimination bracket. The Semifinals and Third-Place Decider matches are BO3, and the Grand Final is BO5.
- Location: Attard, Malta
- Start Date: Oct. 14, 2026
- End Date: Oct. 18, 2026
- Teams: 8
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
Forge of Legends 2026
Also known as Eden Esports Forge of Legends 2026, or just Forge of Legends for short, there isn’t much information available about this event at the time of writing. We know it is organized by h8r.gg, and is considered a Tier 1 tournament by Valve.
- Location: TBD
- Start Date: Oct. 13, 2026
- End Date: Oct. 18, 2026
- Teams: TBD
- Prize Pool: $500,000
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
Based on VRS rankings as of July 6, 16 top teams will compete in Romania for their share of a huge prize pool. It’s the tournament organizer PGL’s second-to-last big event of the year, leading up to the PGL Singapore Major 2026.
The action begins with a Group Stage, featuring a 16 Team Swiss System format. All matches are BO3, and the top eight teams advance to the next stage of competition. A single-elimination bracket will feature BO3 matches in the Semifinals and Quarterfinals. PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 will finish up with a BO5 Grand Final on Oct. 30.
- Location: PGL Studio in Bucharest, Romania
- Start Date: Oct. 24, 2026
- End Date: Oct. 30, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
IEM China 2026
At the IEM China 2026 event, likely to be renamed after the city where it takes place, 16 teams will compete for the glory of lifting a coveted LAN trophy. Team invites are based on VRS rankings of Aug. 3, 2026.
IEM China 2026 starts with a GSL-style format Group Stage, featuring two groups of eight teams each. The top three teams per group advance to the single-elimination Playoffs Stage. All IEM China 2026 matches are BO3, except for the Grand Final, which is BO5.
- Location: China, venue TBD
- Start Date: Nov. 2, 2026
- End Date: Nov. 8, 2026
- Teams: 16
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 2
Eight teams will converge on the AsiaWorld-Expo venue in Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong. BLAST Rivals 2026 Season 2 is the final big LAN tournament before the PGL Singapore Major closes out the season, with the top CS2 teams looking to build momentum.
Teams are invited based on VRS rankings as of Oct. 5, 2026. The action begins with a Group Stage, featuring two groups of four teams each, and a GSL-style format. Three teams from each group will make it to the single-elimination Playoffs Stage. Quarterfinals and Semifinals matches are BO3, and the Grand Final is BO5.
- Location: AsiaWorld-Expo venue in Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong
- Start Date: Nov. 11, 2026
- End Date: Nov. 15, 2026
- Teams: 8
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
PGL Singapore Major 2026
The crowning event of the year, PGL Singapore Major 2026 marks the end of the competitive season. A total of 32 teams will receive invites and compete based on the VRS rankings as of Nov. 2, 2026.
PGL Singapore Major 2026 follows the standard Major Championship format, with three Swiss stages followed by the Playoffs. All stages take place on LAN, with the Playoffs Stage held live at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang.
In the Playoffs Stage, the final eight teams compete in a single-elimination bracket, with BO3 Quarterfinals and Semifinals matches and a BO5 Grand Final.
- Location: Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore
- Start Date: Nov. 25, 2026
- End Date: Dec. 13, 2026
- Teams: 32
- Prize Pool: $1,250,000
Place Your Bets On CS2 Tournaments
The 2026 CS2 calendar is packed with elite events almost every month, giving fans and bettors no shortage of action to follow. From outright tournament winner bets to more than 100 special bet options on individual matches, there’s plenty to explore via our CS2 betting section. Don’t forget to visit our ever-expanding blog and learn how to bet with crypto at Thunderpick!
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