Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) will move one of Counter-Strike’s most prestigious esports events from Katowice to Kraków, Poland, in 2026.
According to ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the inaugural edition of IEM Kraków will run from January 27th until February 8th, 2026.
Organised by ESL and Intel, IEM is one of the longest-running competitive circuits in esports, with 19 years of history. Following its first editions in Hannover, Germany, from 2007-2012, IEM’s most notable event has been hosted in Katowice, Poland, since 2013. The IEM brand has also gone on to host Counter-Strike tournaments all over the globe, including Cologne, Melbourne, Rio, Dallas and Chengdu.
During IEM Katowice’s latest iteration in January this year, nearly 1.3m fans watched Team Vitality take home the lion’s share of its $1m prize pool.
With the eyes of so many Counter-Strike 2 enthusiasts on Katowice every year, the move to Kraków may cause major repercussions for the game’s community as well as the new host city. Current IEM host, Katowice, benefits from a surge of tourists and global attention for the duration of each event. For example, in an article by ESL FACEIT Group in 2021, IEM Katowice 2019 reportedly recorded an economic impact of over £14m that contributed to the city’s local economy.
According to a press release, the move is part of a multi-year deal between the ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and the city of Kraków. The agreement will establish IEM Kraków as a recurring part of the CS annual esports season for the years to come.
This multi-year deal does provide further context as to why PGL’s event in Kraków, which was set to take place in January 2027, was abruptly cancelled just hours after the announcement was made.
Michal Blicharz, VP Product Development at EFG, commented on IEM’s new era: “For almost two decades, Intel Extreme Masters has built a heritage full of emotional and defining moments in esports history. […]
“Today, as we begin a new chapter of this story, we look forward to continuing it with the world’s best gamers and esports fans as they add new pages to it in Kraków, on a bigger scale than ever before.”
What Is Known About IEM Kraków 2026 So Far
IEM Kraków will feature 24 teams competing for a $1.25m prize pool. Six rosters will advance to the Playoff stage in hopes of lifting the first IEM Kraków trophy. Moreover, the final three days will take place at the Tauron Arena.
Afterwards, Kraków visitors can get up close to the trophy at Galeria Krakowska from May 30th until June 2nd. Starting June 8th, the coveted item will be displayed in the Kraków City Hall for two weeks.
