The Counter‑Strike 2 competitive season in 2026 promises to be one of the busiest and most exciting in the history of the franchise.
With a packed calendar of S‑Tier events, including Majors, premier series, global championships, and regional showcases, teams and fans have a wealth of high‑stakes competition to look forward to.
This article breaks down the full schedule of top‑tier Counter‑Strike 2 tournaments across the year, detailing dates, locations, prize pools, and format highlights for each major event.
S-tier CS2 Tournaments in 2026
Below is the full list of S‑Tier Counter‑Strike 2 tournaments scheduled for 2026, organized chronologically. Each event represents a major milestone on the professional calendar.
| Tournament | Dates (2026) | Location | Prize Pool | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 | Jan 22–25 | Malta | TBD | 8 |
| IEM Kraków 2026 | Jan 28–Feb 8 | Kraków, Poland | $1,000,000 | 24 |
| PGL Cluj‑Napoca 2026 | Feb 14–22 | Cluj‑Napoca, Romania | $625,000 | 16 |
| ESL Pro League Season 23 | Mar 13–Mar 15 | Stockholm, Sweden | ~$275,000 | 8 |
| BLAST Open Spring 2026 | Mar 18–29 | Rotterdam & Copenhagen | $400,000 | 16 |
| PGL Bucharest 2026 | Apr 3–11 | Bucharest, Romania | $625,000 | 16 |
| IEM Rio 2026 | Apr 13–19 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | $300,000 | 16 |
| FISSURE Playground #3 | Apr 20–26 | Shenzhen, China | ~$450,000 | 16 |
| BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 | Apr 29–May 3 | Fort Worth, USA | $350,000 | 8 |
| PGL Astana 2026 | May 7–17 | Astana, Kazakhstan | $800,000 | 16 |
| IEM Atlanta 2026 | May 11–17 | Atlanta, USA | $300,000 | 16 |
| CS Asia Championships 2026 | May 19–24 | Shanghai, China | $400,000 | 16 |
| IEM Cologne Major 2026 | Jun 2–21 | Cologne, Germany | $1,250,000 | 32 |
| FISSURE Playground #4 | Jul 13–19 | TBD | ~$800,000 | 16 |
| BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 | Jul 30–Aug 2 | Malta | TBD | 8 |
| Esports World Cup 2026 | Aug 12–23 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | $2,000,000 | 32 |
| BLAST Open Fall 2026 | Aug 26–Sep 6 | Copenhagen (Europe) | ~$400,000 | 16 |
| FISSURE Playground #5 | Sep 7–13 | Shenzhen, China | ~$450,000 | 16 |
| StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 | Sep 17–20 | Europe | ~$250,000 | 8 |
| ESL Pro League Season 24 | Oct 3–11 | Katowice, Poland | ~$300,000 | 16 |
| Forge of Legends 2026 | Oct 13–18 | TBD | ~$500,000 | TBD |
| Thunderpick World Championship 2026 | Oct 14–18 | Malta | ~$500,000 | 8 |
| PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 | Oct 24–31 | Bucharest, Romania | $625,000 | 16 |
| IEM China 2026 | Nov 2–8 | China | ~$300,000 | 16 |
| BLAST Rivals Fall 2026 | Nov 1–15 | Hong Kong | ~$350,000 | 8 |
| PGL Major Singapore 2026 | Nov 25–Dec 13 | Singapore | $1,250,000 | 32 |
Summary
The 2026 CS2 season is rich with competitive action as teams chase glory, ranking points, and some of the largest prize pools in CS2 history.
With global representation from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, CS2’s 2026 schedule underscores Counter‑Strike’s enduring international appeal and competitive depth.
If you enjoy watching the best CS2 players in the world compete, the tournaments listed above will give you the chance to watch some world-class CS.
FAQs
1. How many S‑Tier CS2 tournaments are scheduled for 2026?
There are more than a dozen S‑Tier tournaments planned throughout the 2026 season, including two Majors (Cologne and Singapore), premier events, and global championships.
2. Which CS2 tournament in 2026 has the largest prize pool?
The Esports World Cup 2026 offers one of the largest prize pools of the year at $2,000,000, significantly higher than other events on the calendar.
3. Are the CS2 Majors in 2026 considered the most important events?
Yes, the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major and PGL Major Singapore are considered the flagship events of 2026 due to their high prize pools, international participation, and Valve’s recognition of them as official Majors. However, they are not the tournaments with the highest prize pool.
4. Where are the 2026 CS2 Majors being held?
The first Major is in Cologne, Germany in June and the second Major is in Singapore from late November to mid‑December.
5. Do all S‑Tier tournaments feature the same number of teams?
No, team counts vary by event. Majors typically feature 32 teams, while other S‑Tier tournaments range from eight to sixteen competing teams.
