IEM Kraków 2026: Teams, Format, Schedule, Prize Pool, Talent Lineup
IEM Kraków 2026: Teams, Format, Schedule, Prize Pool, Talent Lineup
Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Kraków 2026 marks one of the first major CS2 LAN events of the year, taking place in Kraków, Poland. Serving as the successor to the iconic IEM Katowice, the tournament is part of the ESL Pro Tour Championship circuit and will feature a deep international field with top teams and rising challengers.
Dates and Location
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Stage 1: January 28–30, 2026
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Stage 2 / Group Stage: January 31–February 3, 2026
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Playoffs: February 6–8, 2026
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Venue: TAURON Arena Kraków, Kraków, Poland
Invited Teams and Seedings
A total of 24 teams invited based on the global VRS rankings as of January 5 have accepted and will compete. The top 8 teams are directly seeded into Stage 2. The remaining teams start in Stage 1 double-elimination brackets, fighting for advancement.
Notable Teams (Sample)
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Seeded into Stage 2:
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FaZe
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Natus Vincere
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FURIA
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Vitality
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MOUZ
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Spirit
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Falcons
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The MongolZ
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Stage 1 Contenders:
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B8 (Ukraine)
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BC.Game (new team led by s1mple)
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Liquid
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Ninjas in Pyjamas
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Aurora
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GamerLegion
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paiN
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Passion UA
(Full list confirmed on HLTV event page.)
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Tournament Format
IEM Kraków 2026 uses a multi-stage competition structure:
Stage 1 (Play-In)
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Double elimination
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Best-of-3 matches
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Top teams advance to Stage 2
Stage 2 (Group Stage)
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Two groups of eight teams each
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Double elimination (GSL-style)
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Group winners → Playoff semifinals
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Second and third place teams → Playoff quarterfinals
Playoffs
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Single elimination bracket
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All matches Best-of-3
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Grand Final Best-of-5
Schedule & Opening Matches
The event starts with Stage 1 on January 28, featuring opening matchups such as:
| Date | Matchups |
|---|---|
| Jan 28, 2026 | Aurora vs GamerLegion |
| HEROIC vs PARIVISION | |
| Astralis vs paiN | |
| NRG vs B8 | |
| Legacy vs BC.Game | |
| FUT vs 3DMAX | |
| Liquid vs Ninjas in Pyjamas | |
| Passion UA vs G2 |
The Stage 2 group draws and schedule will follow once Stage 1 concludes.
Prize Pool
The total prize pool for IEM Kraków 2026 is $1,222,000+ distributed between player shares and club bonuses. The breakdown includes:
| Placement | Prize Money | Club Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $400,000 | $60,000 |
| 2nd | $180,000 | $36,000 |
| 3rd | $100,000 | $31,000 |
| 4th | $60,000 | $25,000 |
| 5–6th | $40,000 | $21,000 |
| 7–8th | $24,000 | $14,000 |
| 9–12th | $16,000 | $7,000 |
| 13–16th | $10,000 | – |
| (Further Stage 1 payouts) | $4,500 / $2,500 | – |
The event also contributes ESL Pro Tour Championship points toward the ESL Grand Slam VI.
Talent Lineup
English broadcast talent confirmed for IEM Kraków includes hosts, analysts, casters, and pundits. A 17-person broadcast team will provide live coverage, commentary, analysis, and on-site content. Key talent includes:
Hosts / Presenters
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Freya “Freya” Spiers
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Oliver “OJ Borg” D’Anastasi
Analysts / Pundits
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Tres “stunna” Saranthus
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Eefje “sjokz” Depoortere
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Janko “YNk” Paunović
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Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen
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(One mystery talent to be revealed)
Casters
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Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill
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Alex “Machine” Richardson
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Harry “JustHarry” Russell
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Jason “moses” O’Toole
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Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne
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Harvey “Skriv” Rodgers
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Cole “Xner” McHenry
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Garret “Phy” Schie
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