CS2: ESL to return to Katowice in 2026

    ESL has confirmed it will return to Katowice, Poland, in 2026 to host a Counter-Strike 2 event at the iconic Spodek Arena.

    esports-world-championship16 esports-world-championship16

    The announcement was made via social media, though ESL has not yet specified which event will take place in the city.

    This move comes amid major reshuffling in ESL's event calendar. In May 2025, the tournament organiser announced that the IEM Katowice event - long held in Katowice since 2013 - will relocate to Krakow for 2026.

    Scheduled for 27 January to 8 February, IEM Krakow will mark a new chapter for the prestigious tournament, but Katowice will still retain a place in ESL's competitive calendar.

    The 2026 ESL circuit is set to be global, with IEM tournaments confirmed for Brazil, the United States, China, and Europe. In addition to Krakow, an unnamed European event is planned for late September.

    ESL Pro League Season 23 will also take place in 2026 and is slated to be held in front of a live audience in a European arena - potentially at the Spodek Arena, hinting at Katowice's continued significance in the scene.

    Further changes are coming to ESL events in 2026. In July 2025, ESL revealed that third-place matches will be introduced across its tournaments.

    This adjustment follows updates to the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), which are now the exclusive method for Major qualification.