By Sagar V. Mankar 
Esports tournament organizer ESL has shared its early plans for the 2026 Counter-Strike season, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect. Despite being more than a year away, the announcement highlights ESL’s proactive approach to organizing its major events.
Here are the confirmed dates for ESL’s 2026 tournaments are as follows:
- January 27 – February 8, 2026
- February 23 – March 15, 2026
- April 12 – April 19, 2026
- May 10 – May 17, 2026
- September 21 – October 11, 2026
- November 1 – November 8, 2026
While specific locations and titles for these events have yet to be announced, ESL is expected to host tournaments on a global scale, continuing its tradition of bringing Counter-Strike action to fans worldwide.
This early announcement aligns with Valve’s rulebook, which requires organizers to reveal their yearly roadmap at least two years in advance. By meeting the January 2025 deadline, ESL ensures smaller organizers have enough space to schedule their own events and teams can better plan their availability.
Fans can look forward to further details as the 2026 season approaches.