Biggest CS2 Events Coming Up?
With PGL Cluj-Napoca concluded, the Counter-Strike 2 calendar shifts to fresh opportunities for bettors. Vitality claimed the title in Krakow and Cluj-Napoca, but what are the next big events. The focus shifts from Romania to the arenas of Stockholm and the digital trenches of the Tier-2 scene.
ESL Pro League
ESL Pro League Season 23 is set to take place from March 1–15, 2026, in Stockholm, Sweden, featuring 24 of the world's top teams. While the tournament remains a premier event on the CS2 calendar, the lineup has seen several significant changes due to declines and Valve rules.
As for the attending teams, the ESL has shared the invitees, and if you are wondering why some big names are missing, it has been confirmed that Team Falcons and Team Vitality both declined their invitation for this tournament (likely to give players a chance to rest amid 2026's immensely hectic calendar), with this providing room for Ninjas in Pyjamas and Passion UA to fill the gap. This change does mean that due to rankings standings, both Aurora and B8 get direct invites to Stage 2 and don't have to progress through Stage 1 first.
Likewise, FUT Esports gained a spot as a previous competitive ruling at Season 22 meant that Lynn Vision was banned from their next Tier 1 VRS tournament, which just so happens to be Season 23.
Check out the full list of invitees below.
Invitees list:
Legacy
G2 Esports
Team Liquid
3DMax
Astralis
Heroic
PaiN Gaming
FUT Esports
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Passion UA
Parivision
NRG
Gaimin Gladiators
Semper Fi Esports
M80
Monte
Key ESL Pro League Tournament Summary
Vitality and Falcons bow out: Two of the biggest names in CS2 — Team Vitality and Team Falcons — have turned down their invitations. With the 2026 calendar already overloaded, it looks like both teams are choosing rest over risking burnout for one and finding the rhythm for the other.
NIP and Passion UA step in: Their spots won’t stay empty. Ninjas in Pyjamas and Passion UA have been brought in as replacements, giving both squads a chance to prove themselves on a bigger stage.
Seeding shake‑up: With two top seeds dropping out, the bracket shifted. Aurora and B8 have been bumped straight into Stage 2, skipping the grind of Stage 1 entirely — a massive advantage in a long event.
Disciplinary twist: FUT Esports earned a spot after Lynn Vision were ruled out due to their late withdrawal from Season 22. The penalty removes LV from their next tier‑1 appearance, opening the door for FUT to take their place.
BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 — What We Know?
The BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 is one of the biggest CS2 events of the spring, with a massive $1.1 million prize pool and a hybrid studio‑to‑arena format. The event runs March 18–29, 2026, starting at the BLAST studios in Copenhagen before moving to the Rotterdam Ahoy Arena for the final three days.
Key Details
Prize Pool: $1,100,000
Teams: 16 total, including Vitality, FURIA, MOUZ, Falcons, Spirit, NAVI, FaZe, Aurora, Liquid, B8, NRG, NIP, TYLOO, 9z, and more.
Format:
Group Stage (Double Elimination, BO3) in Copenhagen
Playoffs (Single Elimination) in Rotterdam
Grand Final is a BO5 showdown
Arena Days: March 27–29 at Rotterdam Ahoy, featuring the top 6 teams.
Broadcast: Shown worldwide in 100+ countries and 30+ languages.
Why This Event Matters?
This is BLAST’s first major open event of 2026, and it brings together a stacked lineup of top‑10 teams plus rising squads from every region. It’s also one of the few early‑season tournaments with a seven‑figure prize pool, making it a crucial momentum builder before the summer circuit. What’s funny that Netherlands don’t have almost at all true CS2 players after the Counter Strike legend ChrisJ.
Closing Chapter — The Road Ahead for CS2
As the dust settles after Cluj‑Napoca, the CS2 season moves into a stretch that feels both unpredictable and unusually crowded. ESL Pro League brings roster drama, surprise replacements, and a reshuffled seeding order that could easily flip expectations on their head. BLAST Rotterdam follows right after with a seven‑figure prize pool and one of the strongest team lineups we’ll see before the summer break. Meanwhile, the tier‑2 scene is overflowing with hungry squads fighting for promotion, HLTV points, and a chance to break into the spotlight left behind by burned‑out tier‑1 giants.
If early 2026 has shown anything, it’s that momentum can shift fast in CS2. With top teams managing fatigue, rising rosters earning unexpected opportunities, and regional LANs producing daily upsets, the next month will play a major role in shaping the competitive landscape. For fans and bettors alike, the most exciting part is that the season is only just beginning.