IEM Krakow 2026 Preview: Format, Teams, and Opening Matches Schedule

IEM Krakow 2026 is one of the first major CS2 tournaments of the year, running from January 28 to February 8 and featuring a $1.25 million prize pool. The event brings together 24 teams, with eight squads directly invited to the Main Stage and sixteen teams competing in Stage 1 for the remaining playoff spots.

Stage 1 kicks off on January 28 and runs through January 30, setting the tone for the tournament with high-stakes Bo3 matches right from day one. One of the most talked-about teams at this stage is PARIVISION, fresh off their BLAST Bounty 2026 victory, as fans watch closely to see if their recent success signals a true breakthrough at IEM Krakow 2026.

IEM Krakow 2026 Tournament Format

Stage 1

• Double-Elimination bracket
• All matches are Bo3
• The top eight teams advance to the Group Stage

Main Stage, Group Stage

• Two double-elimination format (GSL) Groups
• Each group has eight teams
• All matches are Bo3
• The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs:
• Group stage winners advance to the Semifinals
• Group stage runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seeds
• Group stage 3rd place teams advance to the Quarterfinals as the Low Seeds

Playoff Stage

• Single-Elimination bracket
• All matches are Bo3
• The Grand Final is Bo5

Teams Stage 1 & Stage 2

Stage 1 Teams

Main Stage Teams

IEM Krakow 2026 Stage 1 Opening Matches Schedule

January 28

• Aurora vs. GamerLegion and HEROIC vs. PARIVISION starting at 11:00 CET
• Astralis vs. paiN and NRG vs. B8 starting at 13:30 CET
• Legacy vs. BC.Game and FUT vs. 3DMAX starting at 16:00 CET
• Liquid vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas and Passion UA vs. G2 starting at 18:30 CET

How to Watch IEM Krakow 2026

The IEM Krakow 2026 will be streamed live for viewers worldwide, allowing fans to follow every match in real time. Official broadcasts will be available on Twitch and YouTube, featuring multiple streams that cover different matches simultaneously throughout the tournament.

In addition to the main English broadcast, viewers can expect regional language streams and co-streams, depending on availability. Full match VODs and highlights will also be accessible on the official platforms for fans who can’t watch live.

There will be official Twitch, YouTube streams:

• IEM Krakow 2026 Official Twitch Primary Stream
• IEM Krakow 2026 Official YouTube Stream
• IEM Krakow 2026 Official Twitch Secondary Stream

Keep up with our coverage for more insights on the latest esports news and updates.