The first version of IEM Kraków will be held from January 27 to February 8, 2026, bringing together 24 teams to compete for the $ 1.25 million reward.

The prestigious ESL Faceit Group (EFG) organizer announced on Thursday (May 29) that they would move the place to organize the Counter-Strike Tournament (CS) the most iconic in the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) from Spodek Arena in Katowice to Tauron Arena in Kraksw, Poland.

The first version of IEM Kraków will be held from January 27 to February 8, 2026, with a total of 24 CS2 teams competing for the $ 1.25 million reward. Although ESL has not fully revealed the formula of the tournament, there will be six teams that reach the playoffs and the last three days of Iem Kraków 2026 will take place at Tauron Arena from February 6 to 8.

EFG said in a press release that they signed an agreement for many years with the city of Kraków to establish the Kraków "to become an annual event in the global electronic sports schedule for many years to come."

"The advance of one more step and the transfer of ESL Pro tour championship to Kraków is the natural development of the tournament and is a commitment to meet the increasing expectations of the fan community wishing to watch Counter-Strike on the largest stage. The organizers added.

As part of the Agreement between EFG and Kraków city, the IEM trophy display events will be held in the city. From May 30 to June 2, the trophy will be displayed at Galeria Krakowska. Then on June 8, the trophy will be introduced to visitors at the Kraków City Hall on the opening festival and will be retained for two weeks.

Fans present in Kraków will have a special opportunity to admire the Intel Extreme Masters trophy from May 30 to June 2 at Galeria Krakowska. On June 8, the trophy will be displayed at the Kraków City Hall on the opening day and will be stored there for two weeks.

“For nearly two decades, Intel Extreme Masters has built an emotional heritage and symbolic moments in electronic sports history. From the first days in Hannover to the rise of new legends in Katowice, each stop left a unique impression in our history. Today, at the beginning of a new chapter of this story, we want to continue with the best gamers and fans. Electronic sports continue to write new pages in Kraków, on a larger scale than ever, ”Michal Blicharz, Vice President of ESL Faceit Group's product development.

"The city of Kraków is proud of its royal history, but at the same time is always open to the future and innovation. The global influence of Intel Extreme Masters Kraków is an opportunity to introduce Kraków to new objects as an ideal destination for business, tourism and investment," Mr. Aleksander Miszalski, Kraksww, Kraksww, said Kraksww.

The first IEM Katowice tournament was held in January 2013, the first IEM event with the presence of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), although it was only a secondary prize called 'Your Road to Katowice'. Katowice then became the venue for the CS: GO World Championships from the season 10 in 2016 to the season 14 in 2020. Katowice continues to be the familiar destination of the IEM series from 2022 to 2025. The last version of IEM Katowice was held in February, where the big man from France, Team Vitality, started the series of 6 consecutive enemies and 30 matches.

Detailed information about the opening of the ticket sales of iEM Kraków will be announced later.