StrafeStrafe Esports
ESL Reveals 2026 IEM Events in Brazil, USA, and China

ESL Reveals 2026 IEM Events in Brazil, USA, and China

Counter-Strike 2

Thales Costa

11 Jun, 2025, 16:11

|

Last updated: 1 May, 2026, 01:26

ESL has officially unveiled key details for its 2026 ESL Pro Tour Masters events, confirming that the prestigious Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) circuit will make stops in Brazil, the United States, and China next year.

This announcement marks a significant expansion of ESL’s global Counter-Strike 2 calendar and reinforces the organizer’s commitment to bringing top-tier esports action to diverse audiences around the world.

Event Schedule and Locations

  • IEM Brazil: April 13–19, 2026
  • IEM USA: May 11–17, 2026
  • IEM China: November 2–8, 2026

While the specific cities and venues for these tournaments have yet to be disclosed, ESL has confirmed that each event will feature a $1 million prize pool, attracting the world’s elite CS2 teams to compete for glory and vital ESL Pro Tour points.

A Strengthened Global Presence

These new Masters events are part of a broader strategy by ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) to invest at least $22 million into the Counter-Strike ecosystem across 2025 and 2026. This investment aims to foster a sustainable competitive environment and further cement ESL’s status as the leading force in global esports.

The 2026 IEM events in Brazil, the USA, and China will contribute to the ESL Grand Slam, a prestigious $1 million bonus awarded to the first team to win three ESL Pro Tour Masters tournaments and one ESL Pro Tour Championship within a set period. This structure incentivizes consistent excellence across multiple international events and adds an extra layer of excitement for fans and competitors alike.

More Information Coming Soon

The addition of these events follows ESL’s recent decision to move its famous IEM event from Katowice to Kraków, Poland, in early 2026, demonstrating the organizer’s willingness to evolve and adapt to the growing demands of the global esports community. Further details regarding the exact locations, formats, and participating teams for the 2026 Masters events are expected to be released in the coming months.

With these announcements, ESL continues to shape the future of competitive Counter-Strike 2, delivering world-class tournaments to fans across three continents and maintaining its legacy as a pioneer in the esports industry.

Follow BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 on Strafe.  For the latest Counter-Strike news and guides, follow Strafe Esports. Also, check out our X account for real-time content and coverage.

Featured Image Credits: ESL

Read More:

Pick’Em Challenge Guide: Counter-Strike 2 BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 3

Team Falcons eliminated!! MIBR stun NiKo-m0NESY at Austin Major 2025

Latest news

FISSURE Owes Prize Money to Multiple CS2 Orgs, Including Astralis, FURIA, and G2

FISSURE Owes Prize Money to Multiple CS2 Orgs, Including Astralis, FURIA, and G2

FISSURE has acknowledged outstanding prize pool payments owed to 15 Counter-Strike 2 teams, including top organizations like Astralis, FURIA, and G2. The organizer clarified that the pending amounts relate exclusively to tournament winnings from its event series, not salaries or commercial agreements
26 Jun
André Guaraldo

New Study Finds 400 Million Gen Z Consumers Regularly Engage With Esports

The numbers are in, and they're hard to argue with. A new whitepaper from ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports, and Niko Partners titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend dropped today, and it paints a picture of an audience that is bigger, more engaged, and more commercially valuable than many brands still realize
25 Jun
Thales Costa

G2 Bench SunPayus; r1nkle Joins CS2 Roster

After what many would consider a successful run at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, G2 CS2 has decided to bench their AWPer SunPayus in favor of r1nkle. The Ukrainian 21 y.o made waves in 2025 with NIP and was benched by the team in April 2026.
25 Jun
Ganesh Jadhav

G2 Esports and One Piece Collaborate to Create New Limited-Edition Drop

Esports giant G2 is making another move into the anime fashion space, this time partnering with one of the most beloved franchises in the world. In collaboration with One Piece, G2 has announced a new limited-edition streetwear drop available as of today (June 25).
25 Jun
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

CS2 Major Revenue Share Changes Are Pushing Organizations Away from Counter-Strike

Valve’s new CS2 Major revenue share ties sticker income to VRS and final placement, removing capsule‑style payouts and concentrating money among top finishers. The result: higher volatility for clubs that relied on sticker cheques, early roster cuts like Gaimin Gladiators, and a narrower field of sustainable CS2 organizations unless the payout model changes.
23 Jun
André Guaraldo

Cache Is Back, Overpass Is Out for CS2 Premier Season 5

After seven long years on the sidelines, Cache is finally making its way back into competitive Counter-Strike. Valve officially announced that Cache will replace Overpass in the Active Duty map pool starting with Premier Season 5.
22 Jun
Thales Costa

IEM Cologne Major 2026 Grand Final Shatters Counter-Strike Peak Viewership Record

FURIA vs Falcons sets a new live viewership record for Counter‑Strike as the IEM Cologne 2026 Major Grand Final concludes. Here are more details.
21 Jun
Adarsh J. Kumar

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match