IEM Beijing 2026 Set to Mark ESL’s Comeback in China

ESL has officially announced that IEM Beijing will be the concluding event on its 2026 Counter-Strike calendar, marking the highly anticipated return of the Intel Extreme Masters brand to China’s capital after a seven-year hiatus. Scheduled from November 2 to 8, the event will allow fans to experience the action live at the venue during both the group stage and playoffs, following the successful format used at IEM Chengdu last year.

Historically, IEM events in China have primarily taken place in Chengdu and Shanghai, making the 2019 event in Beijing a significant milestone for the brand. That tournament was memorable, featuring a thrilling matchup between Astralis and the top team from Asia-Oceania, 100 Thieves, with IGL Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander earning the MVP title.

However, the pandemic disrupted ESL’s plans in China. The second IEM Beijing-Haidian was largely forgettable as it transitioned to an online format in 2020, despite a standout Grand Final that showcased a clash between Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut and Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev.

For this upcoming event, sixteen of the world’s elite teams will be invited via VRS to compete for a share of the impressive $1,250,000 prize pool. Matches will take place on a unique 360-degree stage, a setup that ESL has recently utilized at IEM Rio. The venue for the event will be the Bloomage Biotech·Biohyalux ECM Arena, which can accommodate around 18,000 spectators.

The group stage kicks off on November 2, dividing the 16 teams into two double-elimination brackets of eight. All matches will be best-of-three, emphasizing teamwork over individual performances. The top three teams from each group will advance, leading to six teams competing in the playoffs.

Importantly, IEM Beijing will be the last event where ESL employs a six-team playoff bracket in CS2. The organizer has announced plans to collaborate with PGL to implement eight-team playoff brackets in the future, moving away from the direct-to-semifinal qualification system. For this event, the top two seeds will have a bye to the semifinals, setting the stage for a best-of-five showdown in the Grand Final.

Fans attending in person will have the chance to experience the excitement from the very beginning, as group stage matches will be ticketed daily. This means the atmosphere will be electric from day one as the tournament unfolds. Ticketing information, signing sessions, and additional details will be shared by ESL as the event approaches.

We’re bringing a new dynasty of Counter-Strike to China ????????#IEMBeijing 2026 ????????️ Bloomage Biotech·Biohyalux ECM Arena⚔️ EPT Masters with 16 teams???? $1,250,000 total winnings???? November 2 – 8, 2026pic.twitter.com/byaN1Bekev