ESL official: IEM Masters will be moved to Krakow from 2026

ESL recently announced that the IEM Masters will be moved from Katowice to Krakow starting from 2026, and will be renamed from "IEM Katowice" to "IEM Krakow".

The first IEM Krakow is scheduled to be held from January 27 to February 6, 2026, with 24 teams competing for a total prize pool of $1.25 million. The playoffs will be held at the Tauron Arena in Krakow, replacing the previous Spodek Arena in Katowice.

Krakow and the Tauron Arena are no strangers to hosting top CS 2 events. As early as 2017, the venue successfully hosted the PGL International Invitational, becoming one of the focuses of the global e-sports community.

Regarding the relocation of the event, ESL Senior Vice President Michal Blitzer explained: "For nearly two decades, IEM Masters has left countless unforgettable classic moments in the history of e-sports. From the original Hannover venue to Katowice, each stop has added a strong and colorful touch to our heritage."

He added: “As this new chapter begins, we look forward to continuing the IEM legacy in Krakow with the world’s top players and esports fans, bigger than ever before.”