Intel® Extreme Masters brings Counter-Strike’s elite back to Brazil

Thursday, April 9, 2026, Rio de Janeiro: Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM), one of the longest-running and most prestigious tournament circuits in esports, is set to return to Rio de Janeiro, reigniting South America’s passion for top-tier Counter-Strike. After a two-year absence, IEM Rio 2026 will once again place Brazil at the centre of the global CS2 stage, bringing together 16 of the world’s strongest Counter-Strike 2 teams for competition running from April 13 to 19.

Following a demanding group stage, the top six teams will advance to the Playoffs, where they will compete live in front of a fiercely passionate Brazilian audience. There, they will fight for a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool and the chance to lift the coveted IEM Masters trophy in one of the most electric environments in esports.

IEM Rio 2026 will also play a pivotal role in the ESL Grand Slam VI race, with an additional $1,000,000 bonus on the line. Team Vitality enters the event just one win away from becoming the first organisation in history to secure back-to-back ESL Grand Slam titles—adding further intensity to an already high-stakes tournament.

Lineup

The event will feature 16 of the world’s top teams, including Brazilian favourites FURIA and Legacy, alongside RED Canids, who enter as underdogs with strong home support behind them. All three will aim to deliver breakthrough performances on home soil, backed by the energy of a packed Rio arena.

They will face some of the most established names in competitive Counter-Strike, including NAVI, the reigning ESL Pro League Season 23 champions, and Team Vitality, recent winners of IEM Kraków, who previously denied FURIA a title in a recent Grand Final showdown.

Confirmed participants include:

• 3DMAX
• Aurora Gaming
• B8 Esports
• FURIA
• G2 Esports
• Gentle Mates
• HOTU
• Legacy
• MOUZ
• Natus Vincere
• Passion UA
• RED Canids
• Team Falcons
• Team Liquid
• Team Spirit
• Team Vitality

Schedule and Format

Group Stage (April 13–15):

• Two groups of eight teams compete in a double-elimination format.
• All matches are played as best-of-three series.
• The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs.
• Group winners advance directly to the Semifinals.
• Group runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals as high seeds.
• Third-place teams advance to the Quarterfinals as low seeds.

Playoffs (April 17–19):

• Single-elimination bracket.
• Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Third-place decider are all best-of-three series.
• The Grand Final is played as a best-of-five showdown.

With a stacked lineup, a roaring Brazilian crowd, and historic stakes in the ESL Grand Slam race, IEM Rio 2026 promises three days of explosive Counter-Strike action and defining moments on one of the biggest stages in esports.

Total Winnings: