It has been revealed that, after 13 consecutive years of hosting an Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournament, Katowice will no longer be the staging ground for this monumental Counter-Strike event. In 2013, IEM transitioned from Hannover to Katowice, bringing the legendary esports tournament to Arena Spodek – but things are finally set to change.
ESL FACEIT Group has revealed that, from 2026, Kraków will serve as the all-new home of Intel Extreme Masters.
Down The Road
IEM Katowice is being shut down, but the event isn’t going far. It was revealed today that IEM Kraków will surface in February 2026, and that city is just 84 km away from Katowice.
IEM Kraków will be held at the TAURON Arena, which can hold almost twice the number of attendees compared to Arena Spodek in Katowice.
In a press release, ESL FACEIT revealed:
Taking the next step and transferring the ESL Pro Tour Championship event to Kraków is a natural evolution of the tournament and a commitment to meeting the growing expectations of the community eager to watch Counter-Strike on the biggest stages. The new setting allows for a larger audience and a world-class in-arena experience that continues to push the boundaries of live esports production.
As part of a new multi-year agreement, both EFG and the city of Kraków are committed to establishing IEM Kraków as a recurring event in the global esports calendar for years to come.
Earlier this year, Team Vitality lifted the IEM trophy in Katowice for the last time, claiming the $400,000 grand prize and kickstarting an incredible winning streak that has made history. Since the win in Katowice, the team has won IEM Melbourne, IEM Dallas, two BLAST events, the ESL Pro League, and the ESL Grand Slam.
The $1.25 million IEM Katowice event commences on January 27, 2026. The best Counter-Strike teams in the world will fight to secure qualification to the playoffs, which will be held in front of a live audience between February 6 – 8.
Are you looking forward to heading to Kraków? Let me know on the Insider Gaming forum.
For more Insider Gaming esports, check out the news that OpTic Gaming won big in Dallas
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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