The 2025 competitive calendar for ESL Pro Tour has now passed the half-way point and while we look towards our next Championship Event coming up with Intel® Extreme Masters Cologne on July 23 through August 3, we turn our attention towards 2026 in this post.
While information is already out there for some of our 2026 events, we today uncover key information relating to three of our ESL Pro Tour Masters Events, taking us back to Brazil and returning to the USA, as well as China.
Intel® Extreme Masters Brazil 2026
Arrival date: April 11, 2026
Media day: April 12, 2026
Tournament dates: April 13-19, 2026
Departure date: April 20, 2026
VRS publication for invites: Invites will follow the first available monthly VRS publication of January 2026.
VRS publication for seeding: Seeding will follow the first available monthly VRS publication of March 2026.
Invite Exceptions: Exceptions to invitations will apply if a player is banned by ESL, FACEIT or ESIC.
Tournament environment: All stages of the tournament will be played in-person on LAN.
Location: Brazil, city to be announced.
Intel® Extreme Masters USA 2026
Arrival date: May 9, 2026
Media day: May 10, 2026
Tournament dates: May 11-17, 2026
Departure date: May 18, 2026
VRS publication for invites: Invites will follow the first available monthly VRS publication of February 2026.
VRS publication for seeding: Seeding will follow the first available monthly VRS publication of April 2026.
Invite Exceptions: Exceptions to invitations will apply if a player is banned by ESL, FACEIT or ESIC.
Tournament environment: All stages of the tournament will be played in-person on LAN.
Location: USA, city to be announced.
Intel® Extreme Masters China 2026
Arrival date: October 31, 2026
Media day: November 1, 2026
Tournament dates: November 2-8, 2026
Departure date: November 9, 2026
VRS publication for invites: Invites will follow the first available monthly VRS publication of August 2026.
VRS publication for seeding: Seeding will follow the first available monthly VRS publication of October 2026.
Invite Exceptions: Exceptions to invitations will apply if a player is banned by ESL, FACEIT or ESIC.
Tournament environment: All stages of the tournament will be played in-person on LAN.
Location: China, city to be announced.
Slot distribution
IEM Brazil | IEM USA | IEM China | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
2 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
3
| Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
4 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
5 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
6 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
7 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
8 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
9 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
10 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-10th) |
11 | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | Global VRS Invite (1st-11th) | North America VRS Invite (1st) |
12 | North America VRS Invite (1st) | North America VRS Invite (1st) | South America VRS Invite (1st) |
13 | South America VRS Invite (1st) | South America VRS Invite (1st) | Asia VRS Invite (1st) |
14 | Global (Closed Qualifier) | Global (Closed Qualifier) | Global (Closed Qualifier) |
15 | Global (Closed Qualifier) | Global (Closed Qualifier) | Global (Closed Qualifier) |
16 | Americas (Closed Qualifier) | Americas (Closed Qualifier) | Asia (Closed Qualifier) |
In 2025 we went with a variety of different slot distributions across these events and went a bit more experimental for IEM Dallas. Since then the VRS-landscape has evolved and the Tournament Operational Requirements has also seen multiple updates.
Our design philosophy for these events
For 2026 we’ve opted with majority Global VRS invites, combined with Regional VRS invites to ensure regional representation depending on the location of each event.
We’ve decided to feature Global Qualifiers for all of our three events and these qualifiers will be taking place on European servers, but will be invited using the Global VRS list. During the first six months of 2025 we’ve seen teams from outside of Europe spend a lot of time in this region with no possibility to head home to play their regional qualifiers and as such miss out on qualification altogether unless opting to go via Open Qualifiers in Europe.
By the same token we will also host Regional Qualifiers for each event, catering to the local region of the event. For the Brazil event, we will be running the Americas qualifier on South American servers, but will be inviting using the Americas VRS list. For the event in the USA, we will be running the Americas qualifier on US servers, but will still use the Americas VRS list for invites. For the event in China we will be running an Asia qualifier on East Asian servers and will be using the Asia VRS list for invites.
Under the current Tournament Operational Requirements we found this configuration hit the best possible configuration, while also providing equal opportunities for North America and South America for the events in Brazil and the USA, but pinning the Americas qualifiers towards the server of the event location.
Across these three events, Asia will be catered to for our event in China, due to the requirement to invite a minimum of two rosters for any single VRS list we invite off of, featuring both a direct invite and a closed qualifier.
Global Qualifiers
The Global Qualifiers will be inviting 12 teams from the Global VRS list, while another 4 teams will be coming from the Open Qualifier. The 16 teams will be competing in a double elimination bracket, with two teams advancing to the associated event. All matches will be played best-of-three maps.
Regional Qualifiers
The Regionals Qualifiers will be inviting 4 teams from the Regional VRS list, while another 4 teams will be coming from the Open Qualifier. The 8 teams will be competing in a double elimination bracket, with one team advancing to the associated event. All matches will be played best-of-three maps.
Event Format
These ESL Pro Tour Masters Events will run similar event formats and feature the same duration as seen in 2025. 16 teams will enter the event, split in two groups of 8 teams playing double-elimination. Each group will see the top three placed teams advance to the playoffs. The playoffs will feature 6 teams, play out in a single-elimination bracket and feature a third place decider match. All matches will be played best-of-three maps, except the Grand Final which is best-of-five.
Each event will continue to provide Total Winnings of $1,000,000 and contribute towards the Annual Club Incentive.
Total Winnings: $1,000,000
Place | Prêmio em Dinheiro | Club Reward |
|---|---|---|
1. | $125,000 | $170,000 |
2. | $50,000 | $120,000 |
3. | $30,000 | $95,000 |
4. | $20,000 | $75,000 |
5-6. | $12,500 | $55,000 |
7-8. | $7,000 | $35,000 |
9-12. | $5,000 | $15,000 |
13-16. | $4,000 | - |
Outro
Stay tuned for more additional information associated with our 2026 and 2027 calendars in near future and, as always, make sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow ESLCS on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
