We’re so excited to welcome you to IEM Cologne Major 2026!
This year will be a little bit different, so to make your experience as seamless as possible, check out this guide - it’s packed with everything you need to navigate the weekend and make the most of your time.
But first, a note on fences...
One thing you may notice are the new fences and entrances to the event around the arena.
We made this change for this event to improve your experience after receiving your wristband — once you're in, you're in. No more queueing every time you go for food, and no security waiting just to get back into the concourse.
We know this may be confusing to returning and new attendees alike, so we'll be bringing our queue management team out further than before to help guide everyone in the right direction.
You can of course still exit and re-enter the premises entirely if you'd like (until the end of the day).
Having an issue? Need directions? Head over to our helpdesk and the team there will have the answers.
Bull Ring:
Test your air-strafing IRL when you're bucked from our mechanical bull in the Side Activities tent!
High Striker:
Strong enough to carry your team? Test your strength and get your rank at the High Striker!
Red Bull DJ Set:
Take a break and recharge at the iconic Red Bull event vehicle where a live DJ will be playing all weekend long! Soak up the festival atmosphere, and keep your energy at peak performance by grabbing a Red Bull at the concession stands!
For ticket support, please head to this tent. Also serves as entrance to Guest, Lounges, Press and Media.
Don't forget to pick up your DHL Drop Signs at the DHL booth, personalize them & head into the arena for a chance to win exciting prizes. You can also compete with your friends at the DHL 1v1 station, or spin the wheel at the DHL booth for a chance to win a surprise!
Put your skills to the test at the ZOWIE booth. Take on the Aim Challenge for a chance to win prizes, play a 2v2 match with your friends, and experience the monitors and peripherals trusted by professional players. Built for competitive play, ZOWIE gear is designed to deliver precision and consistency when every detail matters.
Challenge your aim IRL or in-game at the Intel® Cornhole and 2v2 station!
Take on your friends at the BIG Clan 1v1 station, or spin the wheel to earn prizes!
Airbrush Tattoos:
Get a tattoo of your favourite team! (We'd recommend you get it on your forehead for maximum visibility)
360 Photobooth:
Check every angle for the first time in your life, and take the ULTIMATE selfie at the 360 photobooth, just for you or with a friend!
G2 Esports:
At the G2 Esports booth, you can challenge your friend to a 2v2, get a selfie with the IEM Cologne 2022 Trophy, or sign your own player autograph at the signature wall!
EWC:
Challenge your friends to a 1v1 at EWC's booth and take a selfie with the EWC Trophy and Keys that will be on display!
Kolex:
Visit the dedicated Kolex area to shop the ultimate Counter-Strike collecting experience. Secure brand new, officially licensed trading cards and collectible sets featuring your favorite esports teams and players.
Autofull:
Experience the world’s first gaming chair with shiatsu massage, cooling, and heating. Visit the AutoFull booth [North Tent] and join our Lucky Draw for a chance to win exclusive gaming backpacks, tumblers, mouse pads, and more!
Need to grab a bite to eat? Head over to any of the food vendors on-site for a pick-me-up!
Need to grab a bite to eat? Head over to any of the food vendors on-site for a pick-me-up!
In its new location at Henkelmännchen, the ESL Shop will be selling exclusive items on site, as well as the place to go for goodie bag pickup and signing sessions!
Step into the ultimate gaming hub at the Intel® Tent and experience the best of IEM Cologne. Compete in 5v5 CS2 LAN tournaments, put your skills to the test on custom maps, take part in daily raffles, and capture the moment with a memorable photo experience. Be sure to explore the surrounding concourse area, where you can challenge friends in the 2v2 play zone or try your hand at Counter-Strike-inspired Cornhole for even more chances to play and win unique prizes!
Get your favourite in-game creation from the incredibly talented Balloon Artist! First come first serve.
Pick up and design your DHL drop signs at the DHL Drop Zone Creative Workshop! With more materials (and space) at your disposal than ever before, you'll be sure to create something eye-catching!
Early Registration will be available at the ESL Shop in Henkelmännchen on Wednesday for all ticket types (excluding 1-day Saturday and Sunday buyers, as these will only become available 2 days before).
Premium and Diamond Coin ticket buyers will have separate queues for entry to other ticket type holders.
Times for early registration (Premium and IEM+ only)
Wednesday 15:00 - 19:00
The Cathedral of Counter-Strike Choir.
Ready to get the most out of the Major?
Purchase an IEM+ Upgrade now for exclusive merch, early registration and presale access for the next IEM Cologne event!
Only eligible to redeem alongside an existing IEM Cologne Major 2026 Playoffs ticket.
Signing Sessions at IEM Cologne Major are reserved for fans with paid Signing Session tickets. To purchase a Signing Session ticket, click aqui. Signing Sessions will be held at the ESL Shop in Henkelmännchen.
Make sure you arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the signing session, as arrival after the start time means fans may miss the session. Signings are limited to 1 item per person.
Share or download your favorite holo stickers and learn How it works.
Share or download your favorite holo stickers and learn How it works.
How it works:
High resolution wallpapers for Desktop or Mobile are available at the link below.
Don’t miss the chance to visit your favourite teams' booth!
At the G2 Esports booth, you can challenge your friend to a 2v2, get a selfie with the IEM Cologne 2022 Trophy, or sign your own player autograph at the signature wall!
Take on your friends at the BIG Clan 1v1 station, or spin the wheel to earn prizes!
Don't forget to pick up your DHL Drop Signs at the DHL booth, personalize them & head into the arena for a chance to win exciting prizes. You can also compete with your friends at the DHL 1v1 station, or spin the wheel at the DHL booth for a chance to win a surprise!
Experience the world’s first gaming chair with shiatsu massage, cooling, and heating. Visit the AutoFull booth [North Tent] and join our Lucky Draw for a chance to win exclusive gaming backpacks, tumblers, mouse pads, and more!
Put your skills to the test at the ZOWIE booth. Take on the Aim Challenge for a chance to win prizes, play a 2v2 match with your friends, and experience the monitors and peripherals trusted by professional players. Built for competitive play, ZOWIE gear is designed to deliver precision and consistency when every detail matters.
Challenge your friends to a 1v1 at EWC's booth and take a selfie with the EWC Trophy and Keys that will be on display!
Visit the dedicated Kolex area to shop the ultimate Counter-Strike collecting experience. Secure brand new, officially licensed trading cards and collectible sets featuring your favorite esports teams and players.
In its new location at Henkelmännchen, the ESL Shop will be selling exclusive items on site alongside your favourite teams Jersey, and much more!
This is also the place to go for all goodie bag pickups and signing sessions!
Take a break and recharge at the iconic Red Bull event vehicle where a live DJ will be playing all weekend long! Soak up the festival atmosphere, and keep your energy at peak performance by grabbing a Red Bull at the concession stands!
In collaboration with tl;dr, we've developed a special Major Magazine with insights, steaming hot takes, and some (hopefully) good jokes.
Keep an eye out for the tl;dr crew handing them out on-site at the LANXESS throughout the playoffs weekend!
Who's first to a Diamond coin at Cologne? 💎
The global pick 'ems leaderboard is live now at CSSTATS!
Every correct pick climbs you up the ladder — link your auth code, check your position and share your picks with your friends!
The city is taking on its final form as a CS hub.
As always, the local hotspots will be packed with fans. It’s amazing to see the community take over the city every year. To name a few: Lost Level Bar (gaming bar) and Stiefel (regular bar), while Rheinpark and Rheinpromenade are great outdoor places to hang out and cool down after a long day.
@ SK Gaming Headquarters
Eupener Str. 67, 50933 Cologne
Lead me to the venue
@ Wartesaal am Dom
Johannisstraße 11, 50668 Cologne
Lead me to the venue
No, there is no dedicated wifi on site that is provided by ESL for attendees.
You can pick up your IEM+ goodie bag at the pickup point in Henkelmännchen at any time throughout the weekend.
Pick up times are:
Wednesday 15:00 - 19:00Thursday 12:00 - 19:00Friday 12:00 - 19:00Saturday 12:00 - 19:00Sunday 12:00 - 19:00
You will not be able to re-enter the event if you have removed your wristband.
There will be no exceptions, so please keep your wristband on for the full weekend once you have received it.
No, you aren't able to bring food or drink from outside into the event.
You are allowed to bring a camera in with you — however, any camera you bring in must be no bigger than a typical size DSLR, and you aren't allowed to bring any large lenses in with you.
The main language for the event and the games commentated inside the arena will be English.
Other language streams will be available to watch online.
Yes, check-in is available across the full weekend and you are not required to check-in at a specific time. I.e You bought a 4 day ticket but can no longer arrive until day 2, you will still be able to check-in.
Yes, once you have checked in and received your wristband, it is possible to leave and re-enter the venue until the final map of the day has been completed.
Door opening times will be released closer to the date of the event.
To attend, wheelchair users should purchase any ticket category they wish. We will then reassign your seating to the dedicated accessible area on foyer Level 3, which is reachable from all entrances. Please be aware the infield (Premium and Premium Reserved) and Upper Ranks are not accessible.
A wheelchair user is entitled to bring one accompanying person free of charge. After purchasing your ticket, please contact our customer service at events@esl.com with your order details and a copy of a valid disability card or similar proof to arrange for your companion's ticket.
Only the registered companion will be able to sit in the accessible area. Other members of your party will have to be seated according to the tickets they purchased.
If you still have more questions, please send an email to events@esl.com!
Due to scalping of tickets, we've had to disable Ticket Transfers for the remainder of the event. You can still share tickets with your friends via PDF/URL, but not via Vivenu.
We're also implementing account-based logins for the next 2 weeks, capped at 2 transactions per account. Any exceptions or upgrades to this can be completed via customer support.
Tickets will now also be available just 2 days before the event starts, rather than the 3 initially planned and communicated.
Ticket scalping hurts everyone — we're disappointed to have to take additional measures, but we hope for understanding from the community.
If you are on a payment plan that is not yet completed, you will not be able to list your ticket.
You will need to pay off the full payment plan through your account before you can list your ticket.
You can!
Stage 3 tickets are now available for resale — follow the steps above to sell or buy tickets that have been listed!
Note: Use the exact email address used for the original purchase.
Step 3: Manage Your Listing
The minimum age for attending the event is 16 years. Children and adolescents under 16 are not permitted to attend the event, even if accompanied by a legal guardian. Proof of age must be provided upon request.
Our ticket sale is structured in multiple waves to give everyone a fair chance. Each wave has its own separate and limited inventory for every ticket category.
This means that if a ticket you want is marked as "sold out" in Wave 1, a new stock of that same ticket will become available at the start of Wave 2. You will have another opportunity to purchase it then.
As a backup strategy, you can purchase any available ticket to secure your entry. You can then upgrade it to a higher-tier ticket later, subject to availability.
IEM+ Upgrades are now available to buy for all eligible ticket holders.
Follow this link and log in or register for an account with the email used for your 2026 ticket purchase to gain access.
Purchased a Premium or Premium Reserved ticket? The IEM+ Upgrade is bundled with your ticket already, so you won't be able to purchase another!
No, tickets are not refundable. Closer to the event, you will have the opportunity to list and sell your tickets on our official resale platform.
Tickets for IEM Cologne 2026 will be going live in waves, with an official pre-sale starting on October 8th for fans that bought the Cathedral Experience at IEM Cologne 2025. Want to get ahead in securing your ticket for the next IEM Cologne? Pre-sale access for next year’s event is included in the IEM+ Upgrade, available alongside all ticket types and included in every Premium ticket!
Assigned seating is only available for Premium Reserved and Lower Reserved ticket buyers. All other ticket types are free seating within the seating area that you purchased your ticket for.
You can easily transfer your e-ticket to a friend, family member, or colleague using the vivenu Transfer Tool.
You can access this feature directly by opening the ticket details, either via the order confirmation or from your ticket confirmation email.
Please note that the ticket's barcode will only be released 72 hours before the event, and transfers are not possible with hard tickets.
You are able to buy a maximum of 2 tickets per authenticated customer for the pre-sale, and 8 tickets per transaction starting in Wave 1.
Yes, at checkout you will have the option to pay in either 3 or 6 monthly instalments.
Yes, you can upgrade your ticket to a higher category, subject to availability. However, you cannot downgrade your ticket to a lower category, nor can you change the day of a single-day ticket.
Please note: If you have a hardticket and choose to upgrade, its barcode will become invalid. You are welcome to keep the old ticket as a memento, but you will need to order a new one if you still want a physical ticket for entry.
You will receive your tickets 2 days before the event starts. You will still be able to use our native transfer, rebooking and resale features.
Hardtickets will be shipped within two weeks of personalising your tickets.
If you want to purchase a full lounge, reach out to us at ticketing@efg.gg.
If we recognise that B2C purchases are taking place for B2B purposes, we may be required to cancel your tickets and you will need to rebook.
Currently there are no plans to sell tickets for Stages 1 and 2.
The pre-sale for the IEM Cologne 2026 Major concluded as of 23:59 on the 12th of October.
To access the pre-sale for the next IEM Cologne event, make sure you purchase a Premium or Diamond Coin Access ticket, or otherwise purchase an IEM+ Upgrade alongside your ticket!
The pre-sale for the IEM Cologne 2026 Major concluded as of 23:59 on the 12th of October.
To access the pre-sale for the next IEM Cologne event, make sure you purchase a Premium or Diamond Coin Access ticket, or otherwise purchase an IEM+ Upgrade alongside your ticket!
Further information will be released closer to the event on how to gain access to Meet & Greets.
If you have any ticket related enquiries, please contact vivenu here: https://esl.vivenu.store/support
The main language for the event and all games commentated inside the arena will be English
Last updated: 12th of June, 2026
Willy-Brandt-Platz 3,
50679 Köln, Germany
Train Station
Köln Messe/Deutz Bf
Onibus/Trem
Deutz/Messe
Onibus/Trem
Deutz Technische Hochschule
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
Looking for a full lounge for your friend group? Email us at ticketing@efg.gg
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