DreamHack and ESL Announce IEM Atlanta 2026: A $1,000,000 CS2 Madness Coming to Georgia!
In a major boost for North American Counter-Strike 2 fans, DreamHack and ESL have officially unveiled IEM Atlanta 2026, a landmark $1,000,000 tournament set to crown the next big stars of the game. Slated for May 2026 at the Georgia World Congress Center, this event marks the Intel Extreme Masters debut in the Peach State, replacing the traditional IEM Dallas due to ongoing venue renovations that won’t wrap up until 2029.
DREAMHACK ATLANTA 2026@IEM @ESLCS Counter-Strike returns!
May 15 – 17, 2026
— DreamHack (@DreamHack) November 2, 2025
Tournament Details: High Stakes Format and Qualification
IEM Atlanta will feature 16 of the world’s elite CS2 teams battling over six days, with group stages kicking off on May 11 and playoffs exploding onto the main stage from May 15-17. The format sticks to ESL’s proven recipe, two double elimination 8-team groups, with the top two from each advancing to a single elimination 6 team playoff bracket group winners straight to the semifinals, runners up and third placers fighting in the quarters.
Qualification emphasizes current form via Valve’s Regional Standings (VRS):
- 11 direct invites based on a February 2, 2026, snapshot.
- 1 spot each from North America (NA) and South America (SA) closed qualifiers.
- 3 additional teams from two global and one Americas closed qualifiers.
This merit based system ensures a mix of powerhouses like recent standouts G2, Vitality, and FaZe alongside rising challengers. The $1,000,000 prize pool breaks down into $300,000 in direct cash and $700,000 in club rewards, with the champion pocketing a whopping $295,000 combined making it one of the richest S-tier stops on the 2026 calendar.
A New Chapter for NA CS
Atlanta isn’t new to CS glory. The city hosted ELEAGUE Majors and the iconic 2017 PGL Major, where Astralis claimed their first of four legendary titles. Recent history includes M80’s triumph at DreamHack Knockout Atlanta 2025, earning them a slot at ESL Pro League Season 23. Now, with IEM planting roots here, Southeast fans get premium CS2 action without the trek to Texas.
Marc Winther, Director of Esports – Counter-Strike at ESL FACEIT Group, captured the excitement: “Bringing a world-class Counter-Strike tournament like Intel Extreme Masters to Atlanta is a significant moment for esports in the Southeast U.S. We know how passionate Atlanta’s gaming community is, and we’re excited to bring back the top-tier competition to a city with such a rich history. Hosting IEM at DreamHack will make for an unforgettable weekend of elite competition and festival energy.”
Since: October 29, 2025
