IEM Cologne Major 2026 announced: What to expect?
The Cathedral of Counterstrike will now become a site of one of the most prestigious events that the Counter-Strike 2 Esports scene has to offer, an official MAJOR! After countless IEM Colognes, Cologne will be the set of the 2026 CS2 Major, which was quite anticipated by the fans and viewers of the event. We talk about everything we know and everything we can expect from the first Cologne Major
All you need to know
What are the dates for the Arena days?
The dates for the Arena days for the Cologne Major 2026 are June 18 – June 21st. It being a Major, it is four days, from Thursday (18th of June) to Sunday (21st of June).
Why is a Major in Cologne so important?
Cologne got the nickname „Cathedral of Counter-Strike“not only because the Cologne Cathedral towers over the city but also because many people, like Jacob "Pimp" Winneche, say they regard the IEM Cologne as the highlight of the CS year. The mood and atmosphere in the Lanxess Arena are quite something different from other venues, and we are excited to finally have a Major in Germany again!
What can we expect for items?
We will probably end up seeing a new Pick-em-coin, and according to tradition with these coins, we can deduce that the Coin itself will depict the Cologne Cathedral, similar to the monuments depicted on the Berlin coin from 2019. The Berlin Major was also the last time a Major was played in Germany.
The same most likely goes for the stickers which you get from capsules from the Counter-Strike 2 ingame shop Steam Community Market.
If the souvenir highlight charms return, we can not say for certain.
What does this mean for IEM Cologne?
This means that the IEM Cologne for 2026 will not be taking place, and that a Major will happen in its place. This changes the dates from the beginning of August to roughly the middle/end of June. Which is good, if you would attend the IEM and the Major, you now only have one stop and probably end up saving money along the way.
Conclusion
As a German, I am very hyped for the FIRST EVER Cologne Major. It is an honour to host this event, especially in such a legendary arena, and then to have it be the most prestigious CS event ever, a major, is unbelievable.
It is also a good date for most people, as summer holidays or vacations mostly fall on these dates. But as a university student, you might have a few problems attending.
