ESL official: IEM Cologne Major will be restarted in June 2026

ESL officially announced on Sunday that IEM Cologne will return as a Major-level event in 2026. This will also be the fourth time Cologne has hosted the event, following three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016.

According to an official announcement, this Major will utilize Valve's newly developed format, marking the third Major with four stages and 32 participating teams. The knockout stage, scheduled for June 18-21 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, has been confirmed to be open to spectators. ESL stated that further details will be released later regarding the public availability of other stages.

Regarding the decision to return the Major to Cologne, Mark Winser, Director of Counter-Strike Ecosystem at ESL FACEIT Group, said: "IEM Cologne has long established itself as a cornerstone of Counter-Strike competitive events, each event bringing together top teams, a passionate atmosphere and the most enthusiastic audiences."

“Bringing the Major back to Cologne after a decade is a true tribute to the spirit of IEM Cologne. With an additional live tournament day and more ways to engage with fans, we look forward to delivering an unforgettable event for the Counter-Strike community.”

ESL also stated that more details, including ticket information, will be announced through the official website of the event in the future.