IEM Rio dates set
Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2026 is locked for April 13–19 in Rio de Janeiro with 16 teams and a $300,000 prize pool — it’s a Valve Tier‑1 S‑Tier stop that will shape the CS2 year. Full qualified teams and the bracket are expected to be released in the coming weeks as organizers finalize the schedule Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2026 - Liquipedia Counter-Strike Wiki.
Farmasi Arena will host the event’s playoff weekend, with [ESL confirming]pro.eslgaming.com the venue has previously drawn crowds for IEM Rio runs. ESL FACEIT [Group announced]eslfaceitgroup.com a formal partnership with the State of Rio de Janeiro and the Rio de Janeiro Esports Federation (FERJEE) for the 2026 return. The final wave of tickets [goes on sale]pro.eslgaming.com Tuesday, March 17 at 12:00 BRT and will be sold exclusively through Ticketmaster. Public sources show inconsistent prize-pool framing: HLTV’s event page lists a $1,000,000 total (with a $300,000 player share and $700,000 club share) [reported]hltv.org, while Liquipedia’s listing still shows a $300,000 figure for the event’s prize [pool noted]liquipedia.net. Organizers have published a competitive structure using double-elimination group stages played as best-of-three maps, with group winners advancing to the semifinals and second/third-placed teams entering the quarterfinals before a single-elimination playoff [bracket outlined]hltv.org. An initial attendee [list reported]hltv.org by HLTV already names established sides such as Vitality, FURIA, MOUZ, Liquid, G2 and Natus Vincere alongside regional invitees like RED Canids and HOTU.
