PGL Relocates Belgrade 2026 CS2 Event to Bucharest Once Again
PGL has announced that its planned PGL Belgrade 2026 Counter-Strike 2 tournament will instead take place in Bucharest, Romania, rebranded as PGL Masters Bucharest 2026.
This marks the second consecutive year the organiser has pulled the event from Serbia’s capital, disappointing local fans hoping for a major Tier 1 CS2 event on home soil.
🗓️ PGL CS2 2026 Calendar Update
🇷🇴 PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
📅 Oct 24–31, 2026 | Schengen
💰 Winnings: $1.25 M
🏟️ Main Event: LAN | Qualifiers: Online🎟️ Invites & VRS
• Main Event: 12 teams (Global VRS, from #1)
• Closed Qualifiers:
– EU / AMER: 4 VRS invites per region
–… pic.twitter.com/SDnZ3X2V9r
— PGL (@pglesports) December 22, 2025
Updated Event Details
The tournament is now scheduled for October 24–31, 2026, shortened by two days from the original October 22–November 2 dates. It will be hosted as a studio LAN in PGL’s Bucharest facilities rather than the 18,000 capacity Belgrade Arena.
- Prize Pool: $1.25 million
- Format: 16 teams total
- 12 direct invites based on global Valve Regional Standings (VRS)
- 4 spots via regional closed qualifiers (EU and Americas regions highlighted)
- Qualifiers: Online
This adjustment potentially eases travel logistics for teams heading to the subsequent IEM China 2026 event starting November 2, though back to back tournaments remain demanding.
Ongoing Challenges for PGL
The relocation adds to a string of disruptions in PGL’s Tier 1 CS2 calendar since re-entering the scene. Previous changes include:
- Canceling an August 2026 event due to overlap with the Esports World Cup
- Scrapping an early October 2026 tournament after conflict with ESL Pro League Season 24
- Rapid cancellation of PGL Kraków 2027 shortly after announcement, as the venue was secured by ESL for IEM Krakow (2026–2028)
PGL emphasized its commitment to early announcements per Valve’s requirements (tournaments for 2026 must be declared by January 1, 2025), but rival organizers overlapping schedules have forced repeated revisions.
“The CS2 event initially scheduled for early October 2026 will no longer take place due to a full overlap with another organizer’s tournament, despite PGL having announced its calendar as early as March 2024. PGL will continue to prioritize competitive integrity, global scheduling balance, and logistical feasibility for teams and players.”
Despite these hurdles, PGL continues to host high-stakes events, with fans awaiting confirmation on the full 2026 lineup.
Since: October 29, 2025
