Chinese CS2 fans are in for a surprise because ESL announced that the IEM is returning to Beijing for the first time in 7 years. IEM Beijing 2026 will visit China’s capital for the first time since 2019, so let’s learn more about it.
IEM Beijing 2026 Overview
Based on the information from ESL, IEM Beijing 2026 will take place between November 2-8. People who wish to attend the competition can do so by purchasing tickets and visiting the Bloomage Biotech Biohyalux ECM Arena.
The event will feature 16 teams and a $1,250,000 prize pool. What makes the event interesting is that it will feature a unique 360-degree stage design.
It goes without saying, but ESL’s director of CS2 said that the company is excited to bring the competition back to China. As mentioned earlier, the event is returning to China for the first time since 2019. This was during the so-called Astralis era, when the team was on another level and defeated everyone.
Astralis won IEM Beijing 2019, while 100 Thieves came second and Vitality finished third. Considering how things have changed in the last couple of years, there is a good chance that Vitality will be the main favorite this time around.
In terms of the IEM Beijing 2026 format, we will have a double-elimination Bo3 bracket. The group winners will advance to the semi-finals, whereas those that finish 2nd and 3rd will secure a slot for the quarter-finals.
In terms of the playoffs, there will be Bo3 matches and a Bo5 Grand Final. An interesting fact is that there will be a 3rd place decider, which will be in a Bo3 format. Stay tuned for more information in the upcoming months. In the team time, don’t forget to follow the upcoming CS2 events.
