IEM Cologne Major 2026 to Feature No More Bo1's for Stage 3 Matches

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 just got bigger and better! ESL has officially announced that every match in Stage 3 of the tournament will now be played in best‑of‑three (Bo3) format, a first in Counter‑Strike Major history. The change aims to make competition fairer and give fans longer, more exciting battles than the quick‑fire best‑of‑ones (Bo1) of the past.

To make room for the expanded schedule, Stage 3 will now run June 11–15, 2026, adding one extra day of in‑person action at the Palladium, Cologne. Across those five days, teams will face off in multiple rounds of Bo3 matches: four on the opening three days, followed by three matches each on Sunday and Monday.

With Stage 3 and Playoffs tickets selling out in record time, ESL also confirmed an increase in ticket availability across existing days, along with ticket sales for the new June 11 date. Fans can purchase their seats starting Thursday, February 26 at 15:00 CET, through vivenu.

The updated overall event timeline now looks like this:

Stage 1: June 2–5
Stage 2: June 6–9
Stage 3: June 11–15
Playoffs: June 18–21

A Durable Change or A Dying Spark?

The shift to best‑of‑three matches brings clear benefits. It rewards depth and consistency, reducing the chance of early upsets caused by single‑map volatility. Fans also gain longer, higher‑quality series that showcase more map variety and strategic adaptation.

However, the expanded format also demands more endurance from the players and more time from spectators, possibly tightening rest periods and increasing event fatigue. For organisers, it also adds logistical challenges, though it equally reinforces IEM Cologne’s reputation as one of the most prestigious and complete esports tournaments on the calendar.

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Feature image credit: Intel Extreme Masters

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