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It must be noted that the move is a relocation and rebranding of the existing major event, not a separate, new tournament. The primary reason for the change is to move to a larger venue, the Tauron Arena Kraków, which has nearly double the seating capacity of the previous iconic venue, Spodek. This will allow for greater attendance and expansion of the event.

Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 is part of the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) for Counter-Strike. More broadly, it continues the legacy of Intel Extreme Masters, the long-running global pro-gaming tour. IEM Kraków 2026 will be held between January 28, 2026, and February 8, 2026. It’s classified as an “S-Tier” event and as a “Valve Tier 1” tournament in CS2, i.e., the highest possible level of tournament in the Counter-Strike ecosystem.

The prize pool is substantial and, as part of IEM — one of the oldest, most prestigious global eSports tours — Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 carries significant prestige and is considered an ultimate stop in the CS2 competitive calendar.

The tournament organizer is ESL FACEIT Group (often shortened to ESL) – the world’s largest eSports company, with headquarters in Cologne (Germany), but with many regional offices worldwide.

Venue, Format, and Prize Pool Overview for the Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026

The main venue is Tauron Arena Kraków — the playoffs (final phase) will be held there. Given that IEM Kraków’s predecessor, IEM Katowice, had earlier stages leading to the playoffs held behind closed doors — meaning no live audience — such a scenario might happen again. Without a public audience means it can be a closed-door LAN or, possibly, even remote/online, depending on the organizer’s decisions. What’s known at the moment is that Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 is held offline and indoors.

Twenty-four teams in total will participate in the Kraków tournament. The total prize pool is USD 1 million. As for distribution, according to a breakdown posted on one public listing, it’s going to be like this: first place gets USD 400,000; second place USD 180,000; third place USD 100,000; fourth place USD 60,000; 5-6th place USD 40,000 each, 7-8th place USD 24,000 each, 9-12th place USD 16,000 each; 13-16th place USD 10,000 each, 17th-20th place USD 4,500 each, and 21st-24th place USD 2,500 each.

Note: Public sources vary slightly on how “total prize pool” is framed (USD 1.25 million vs USD 1 million), possibly due to whether “preliminary stages + main event” is aggregated or not.

Participating Teams in the Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 and Qualification Overview

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Structure and Match Format of the Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026

Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 will have three stages.

Play-in as stage 1 will run Jan 28–Jan 30, 2026.

• Match format: 16 teams fighting via a double-elimination bracket, bo3 matches; the top eight teams advance to the Group Stage.

Group stage as stage 2 (dates unknown).

• Match format: 16 teams (eight from play-in and eight direct invitees) fighting via a two double-elimination format (GSL) Groups. Each group has eight teams. All matches are bo3. The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs:

• • Group stage winners advance to the semifinals
  • Group stage runners-up advance to the quarterfinals as the high seeds
  • Group stage third-place teams advance to the quarterfinals as the low seeds

Playoffs as the main event run Feb 6–8.

• They are planned as a six-team single-elimination, bo3 matches, except for the grand final, which is to be bo5.

The Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 Favorites, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

While the final 24-team list isn’t fully published yet, the projected favorites are consistent across ranking-based predictions, ESL Pro Tour performance, and results from late-2025 CS2 tier-one events. Expect these teams to enter Kraków as headline contenders:

• FaZe Clan
• Team Vitality
• G2 Esports
• Natus Vincere
• Team Spirit

IEM events consistently appear across major licensed eSports bookmakers, and betting markets usually open several weeks before the tournament. You’ll be able to find common betting markets:

• Match winner (moneyline)
• Handicap maps/handicap rounds
• Total maps (over/under)
• Correct score
• Futures: tournament winner
• Player props (kills, ADR, entry duels — depending on bookmaker)
• Map-specific markets (pistol rounds, first to X rounds, etc.)

The safest and most convenient options will include any of these categories:

• Specialized eSports bookmakers (e.g., CS2 eSports betting sites; they typically offer deeper map-specific markets)
• Mainstream international sportsbooks (e.g., licensed operators with broad esports coverage)
• Local region-licensed sites, depending on your jurisdiction

IEM Kraków 2026 will be broadcast globally through official ESL channels.

Primary streams:

• Twitch: ESL_CSGO main channel + regional language streams
• YouTube: ESL Counter-Strike official channel (full VOD support)
• ESL’s official site / EFG platform: pro.eslgaming.com or match-hub viewing
• Secondary regional partners: depending on local rights (Brazil, CIS, France, Germany, Poland)

Live arena (Playoffs only)

• Tauron Arena Kraków, February 6–8, 2026
  (Finals weekend is the only stage confirmed to have a full live-audience presence.)

Pros and Cons of Relocating IEM to Kraków