ESL has officially announced the list of teams that have accepted invitations to IEM Krakow 2026

IEM Krakow 2026 is an iconic tournament with a long-standing history and immense prestige. For many years, the event was closely associated with Katowice, but in 2026 ESL decided to change the host city to Krakow. Despite the change in location, the tournament retains its key role on the professional Counter-Strike scene and remains one of the most anticipated events of the year for fans.

Stage 1 Invites

(Teams ranked 9th–24th in the Global Valve Regional Standings)

• Aurora Gaming
• B8
• Legacy
• G2 Esports
• Team Liquid
• 3DMAX
• Astralis
• PARIVISION
• HEROIC
• paiN Gaming
• FUT Esports
• Ninjas in Pyjamas
• Passion UA
• BCG Esports
• NRG
• GamerLegion

Stage 2 Invites

(Teams ranked 1st–8th in the Global Valve Regional Standings)

• FURIA
• Team Vitality
• Team Falcons
• Team Spirit
• Natus Vincere
• MOUZ
• FaZe Clan
• The MongolZ

The tournament will take place from January 28 to February 8, 2026, with a total prize pool of $1,000,000, of which $400,000 will go to the champions. In addition, IEM Krakow 2026 is part of the ESL Grand Slam circuit, making the event even more important in the context of the season and the battle among top teams for a historic achievement.

To make sure you don’t miss the most important matches of IEM Krakow 2026, you can follow the action and results in real time in the Live Scores section on our website. There you will find up-to-date scores, match schedules, and all key information from the tournament.