Red Bull Gaming has been announced as the Official Energy Drink Partner of the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) IEM Cologne Major 2026.

The announcement was made through a social media post. However, neither ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) nor Red Bull has shared any additional details about the partnership.

At the moment, all that has been confirmed is Red Bull’s designation as the event’s official energy drink partner. No information has been released regarding the financial terms of the deal, the length of the partnership, or any planned activations for the tournament.

The partnership follows a similar pattern seen at other ESL events. Earlier this year, Red Bull was also announced as the Official Energy Drink Partner of IEM Kraków 2026, with few details disclosed publicly at the time.

Based on previous partnerships between Red Bull and ESL-operated events, such agreements have typically included on-site branding and product sampling, broadcast integrations, hospitality support for players and staff, and digital content promotions.

Global Esports Industry Week (GEIW) will return in 2026 with a bigger and bolder edition, taking place across 18–21 June in Cologne, Germany, alongside IEM Cologne. The schedule and details about ticket sales are available in this link.

The IEM Cologne Major 2026, also known as the Cologne Major, is the fifth CS2 Major Championship. The tournament is currently underway in Cologne, Germany, a city referred as the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike” due to its long-standing association with some of the game’s biggest events.

The Major runs from June 2 to June 21 and features a prize pool of $1.25 million. A total of 32 teams are competing, with all participants receiving direct invitations through the Valve Regional Standings system. The tournament’s first three stages are being played at the Palladium, while the playoffs will take place at LANXESS Arena from June 18 to June 21.

Intel serves as the event’s presenting partner through the Intel Extreme Masters brand. Other official partners for the tournament include Acer Predator, DHL, ZOWIE (BenQ), CHEXX, AutoFull, and GRID. For now, Red Bull Gaming joins the list of official partners for the Cologne Major.

Cologne will also host the Global Esports Industry Week 2026, held in partnership with EFG along with the Major’s final stage. More information on the schedule, speakers, and ticketing can be found at this link.

Subscribe to our TER newsletters here! Including On The Radar a quick weekly wrap up of all esports business stories, and the fortnightly Heat Map, a deeper dive into the stories not to be missed across esports business and culture worldwide.

Follow The Esports Radar on social media: