Intel Extreme Masters moves esports tournament from Katowice to Kraków, Poland
1 min read
Summary
ESL Faceit Group, owned by Savvy Games Group, has announced that the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) esports tournament for Counter-Strike 2 will be held in Krakow, Poland, rather than the traditional venue of Katowice.
The four-day tournament in February 2026 will be held at the Tauron Arena, with the final three days open to thousands of fans.
The move establishes Krakow as the permanent home for the competition, which generates more than $40m in economic impact for host cities and attracts over 70% of visitors solely for the ESL event.
Attending the tournament, gamers will compete for a $1.25m prize pool and one of the esports industry’s most iconic trophies.