IEM Atlanta 2026 Viewer’s Guide: Schedule, Where to Watch, and More

IEM Atlanta 2026 is set to begin soon, running from May 11-17. Offering a $1 million prize pool, crucial VRS points, and valuable LAN practice ahead of the upcoming Major, the tournament brings together 16 Counter-Strike teams in Atlanta, Georgia. For top sides like Team Vitality, NAVI, Astralis, and several others, this will be their final stop before the IEM Cologne Major kicks off on June 2nd. All matches will be streamed live, while the playoff weekend (May 15-17) will welcome an audience at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Notably, since IEM Atlanta 2026 runs parallel to PGL Astana, several top teams have opted out of the event. This includes multiple squads from the VRS top 10, such as Team Falcons, FURIA, and Team Spirit, among others. While this prevents some of the Major‑qualified teams from gaining fresh LAN experience against one another before the Major, it also adds to the intrigue when they finally face off in high-stakes matches less than a month from now.

The tournament will feature two stages: a double-elimination Group Stage followed by a single-elimination playoffs. We've delved deeper into the format, teams, and Group Stage analysis in our article here. Below, you'll find the detailed schedule and livestream information for IEM Atlanta 2026. 

IEM Atlanta Schedule

Opening Matches (Monday, May 11th)

• B8 vs BetBoom - 8:30 a.m PDT / 5:30 p.m CEST

• paiN vs FaZe - 8:30 a.m PDT / 5:30 p.m CEST

• Vitality vs BC.Game - 11 a.m PDT / 8 p.m CEST

• NRG vs FUT - 11 a.m PDT / 8 p.m CEST

• NAVI vs Passion UA - 1:30 p.m PDT / 10:30 p.m CEST

• SINNERS vs GamerLegion - 1:30 p.m PDT / 10:30 p.m CEST

• Legacy vs M80 - 4 p.m PDT / 1 a.m CEST

• Liquid vs Astralis - 4 p.m PDT / 1 a.m CEST

The winners of the opening matchups will advance to the Upper Bracket of their respective groups, while the losers will drop to the Lower Bracket, where every match is an elimination game. 

Remaining Group Stage Matches

Tuesday, May 12th

• Group A Upper Bracket Semifinal #1 - 8:30 a.m PDT / 5:30 p.m CEST

• Group A Lower Bracket Round 1 #1 - 8:30 a.m PDT / 5:30 p.m CEST

• Group A Upper Bracket Semifinal #2 - 11 a.m PDT / 8 p.m CEST

• Group A Lower Bracket Round 1 #2 - 11 a.m PDT / 8 p.m CEST

• Group B Upper Bracket Semifinal #1 - 1:30 p.m PDT / 10:30 p.m CEST

• Group B Lower Bracket Round 1 #1 - 1:30 p.m PDT / 10:30 p.m CEST

• Group B Upper Bracket Semifinal #2- 4 p.m PDT / 1 a.m CEST

• Group B Lower Bracket Round 1 #2 - 4 p.m PDT / 1 a.m CEST

Wednesday, May 13th

• Group A Lower Bracket Semifinal #1 - 8:30 a.m PDT / 5:30 p.m CEST

• Group A Lower Bracket Semifinal #2 - 8:30 a.m PDT / 5:30 p.m CEST

• Group B Lower Bracket Semifinal #1 - 11 a.m PDT / 8 p.m CEST

• Group B Lower Bracket Semifinal #2 - 11 a.m PDT / 8 p.m CEST

• Group A Upper Bracket Final - 1:30 p.m PDT / 10:30 p.m CEST

• Group A Lower Bracket Final  - 1:30 p.m PDT / 10:30 p.m CEST

• Group B Upper Bracket Final - 4 p.m PDT / 1 a.m CEST

• Group B Lower Bracket Final  - 4 p.m PDT / 1 a.m CEST

All teams that reach the Upper Bracket Final or Lower Bracket Final of their group will advance to the playoffs. The winner of the Upper Final will directly qualify for the semifinals, while the remaining playoff teams will start in the quarterfinals. 

Playoff Schedule

Friday, May 15th

• Quarterfinal #1 - 10:15 a.m PDT / 7:15 p.m CEST

• Quarterfinal #2 - 1:30 p.m PDT / 10:30 p.m CEST

Saturday, May 16th

• Semifinal #1 - 10:15 a.m PDT / 7:15 p.m CEST

• Semifinal #2 - 1:30 p.m PDT / 10:30 p.m CEST

Sunday, May 17th

• 3rd Place Decider Match - 7:45 a.m PDT / 4:45 p.m CEST

• Grand Final - 11:15 a.m PDT / 8:15 p.m CEST

Where to Watch IEM Atlanta 2026

IEM Atlanta 2026 will be broadcast live on ESL's official channels across multiple streaming platforms, with two streams running simultaneously. You can also watch co-streams from various content creators. Below are the official English stream links: 

Stream A: Twitch, YouTube, Kick

Stream B: Twitch, YouTube, Kick

You can also follow CS2 IEM Atlanta 2026 live on Strafe.

Don't forget to follow Strafe Esports for the latest news about your favorite esports and to check out our X account for the most recent content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and much more.

Featured Image Credit: ESL Counter-Strike

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