The HLTV Awards presented by 1xBet will return to the Sava Center in Belgrade, Serbia, on 9 January 2027. The event is scheduled to host over 1,000 attendees to recognise the performance metrics and contributions within the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) scene throughout the 2026 season.
Commercial support for the event continues with betting operator 1xBet as the primary sponsor, presenting the majority of award categories, including the new Lifetime Achievement Award. Skin.Club will serve as the presenter for “Skin of the Year,” while the “Rookie of the year” category still shows an open sponsorship spot.
Furthermore, the Hall of Fame presented by 1xBet has updated its eligibility criteria, now allowing individuals to be inducted based on their playing careers even if they currently hold roles such as coaching.
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The nomination process for the Hall of Fame, which will see four players inducted, is set to begin following the conclusion of the IEM Cologne Major 2026.
As a precursor to the main event, an invitation-only launch party, organised in collaboration with data platform GRID, will take place in Cologne during the Major. The partnership with GRID will extend to an event held alongside the awards gala in Belgrade, where the HLTV Conference by GRID will convene industry stakeholders for a series of discussions.
Additionally, David Johnston, creator of the map Dust2, is scheduled to attend the ceremony as an award announcer to mark the map’s 25th anniversary.
The new Lifetime Achievement Award will be determined by the Hall of Fame Board to recognise individuals who have had a transformative impact on the franchise. For the 2026 cycle, the ceremony will also move Community Awards from the pre-show segment to the main stage.
See all categories included:
- Player of the year presented by 1xBet
- Women’s Player of the year presented by 1xBet
- Team of the year presented by 1xBet
- Women’s team of the year presented by 1xBet
- Rookie of the year presented by TBD
- IGL of the year presented by 1xBet
- AWPer of the year presented by 1xBet
- Anchor of the year presented by 1xBet
- Closer of the year presented by 1xBet
- Opener of the year presented by 1xBet
- Coach of the year presented by 1xBet
- Highlight of the year presented by 1xBet
- Talent of the year presented by 1xBet
- Streamer of the year presented by 1xBet
- Creator of the year presented by 1xBet
- Event of the year presented by 1xBet
- Skin of the year presented by Skin.Club
- Hall of Fame presented by 1xBet
- Lifetime Achievement Award presented by 1xBet
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