ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has announced a major shake-up for one of esports’ most storied events, with Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) set to leave Katowice and head to Krakow, Poland, in 2026. This marks the first time the historic tournament will be held in Kraków, continuing IEM’s 19-year legacy that originated in Hannover, Germany.
The final three days of IEM Krakow will take place at the TAURON Arena from February 6-8, 2026, welcoming thousands of fans for live CS2 action. The move is part of a broader, multi-year partnership between EFG and the city of Krakow, aimed at cementing the event as a fixture in the global esports calendar.
“Kraków is a city proud of its royal history, but simultaneously open to the future and innovation,” said Aleksander Miszalski, Mayor of Krakow. “The global reach of Intel Extreme Masters Kraków is a chance to present Kraków to new audiences as an ideal destination for business, tourism, and investment.”
Michal Blicharz, VP Product Development at EFG, added: “For almost two decades, Intel Extreme Masters has built a heritage full of emotional and defining moments in esports history. From the early days in Hannover to the rise of new legends in Katowice, every stop along the way has left its mark on our legacy. 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.”
IEM Krakow begins on January 27, 2026,, featuring 24 of the world’s top CS2 teams vying for six playoff spots and a share of the $1.25 million prize pool. In the lead-up, fans can view the IEM trophy at Galeria Krakowska from May 30–June 2 and at Krakow City Hall during an open day on June 8, where it will remain on display for two weeks.
This move will no doubt be highly divisive among the Counter-Strike fanbase, who have spent the last 12 years looking forward to the prestigious Katowice event. That said, Krakow’s TAURON Arena has a capacity of around 20,000, almost double that of Katowice’s Spodek Arena, which can hold around 11,500. This no doubt represents a huge step and a landmark for Counter-Strike esports. History continues to be told in Krakow.
