IEM Rio 2026 returns to Brazil as a premier Counter-Strike 2 tournament on the global esports calendar.
IEM Rio 2026 Brings Elite Counter-Strike Back to Brazil
Intel Extreme Masters returns to Rio with a prize pool of a million dollars as top CS-2 teams prepare to compete next year.
- IEM Rio confirmed to return in 2026 after a one-year hiatus.
- Event to run in April with a million-dollar prize pool.
- With such tournaments in line, Rio is set to become a key global host for top-tier esports events.
Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Rio is scheduled to return to Brazil in 2026. The event marks the return of one of Counter-Strike's most popular global tournaments. ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has confirmed the tournament along with the State of Rio de Janeiro and the Rio de Janeiro Esports Federation (FERJEE).
Cadu Albuquerque, President of the FERJEE, said the event had been in planning for a long time. “IEM Rio has become emblematic, firmly establishing itself within our state and in the hearts of the Counter-Strike fans,” added Albuquerque. “Although the event did not take place in 2025, we remained active and used that period to plan ahead for upcoming editions, making the 2026 return possible.”
IEM Rio 2026, Brazil: Confirmed Dates, Venue, and Tournament Format
Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Rio is slated to take place from April 13 to April 19, 2026, at the Farmasi Arena with the top three elite Counter-Strike 2 teams vying for the $1 million USD prize money. Fans can attend in person on the final three days, April 17-19, with ticket sales for Wave 1 commencing from December 15, 2025.
The ESL Pro Tour (EPT) will include IEM Rio 2026, in which sixteen teams will compete in two GSL double-elimination groups, with best-of-three matchups. Each group's top three teams move on to the single-elimination playoffs, which are best-of-three games with the best-of-five being the championship game.
Rio’s Growing Legacy as an Esports – Counter-Strike Host City
Rio has recently established a noteworthy reputation for holding elite Counter-Strike competitions. Prior to the event's suspension in 2025, the city established itself as a regular destination for the Intel Extreme Masters circuit by hosting an IEM Major in 2022 and two IEM Rio events in 2023 and 2024.
Rafael Picciani, Secretary of Sports and Leisure of the State of Rio de Janeiro, believes that “Fostering esports is a strategy that goes beyond entertainment. It generates jobs, drives the economy, and offers new perspectives for thousands of people”.
Author
Diya Mukherjee is a Content Writer at Outlook Respawn with a postgraduate background in media. She has a passion for writing content and is enthusiastic about exploring cultures, literature, global affairs, and pop culture.
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