BLAST has officially announced the full list of participants for BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2, which will mark the beginning of the second half of the Counter-Strike season. The competition will start with an online stage on July 21-26 before moving to BLAST Arena Studios in Malta, where the top eight teams will fight for the title from July 30 to August 2. Among the most notable talking points are the absence of several high-profile teams, including NAVI, Legacy, BetBoom, and B8, while Liquid, 100 Thieves, EYEBALLERS, and OG received the four wildcard invitations.
Four wildcard teams complete the lineup
BLAST confirmed that 32 teams will compete in the single-elimination best-of-three tournament. The organizers handed out wildcard invitations to:
- Liquid
- 100 Thieves
- EYEBALLERS
- OG
The announcement also confirmed the participation of the world’s elite, with Vitality, Spirit, Falcons, MOUZ, The MongolZ, GamerLegion, G2, Astralis, FaZe, Aurora, and FURIA all set to begin their campaigns in late July.
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The complete team list includes:
- Vitality
- Spirit
- Falcons
- FURIA
- Aurora
- MOUZ
- The MongolZ
- GamerLegionG2
- FUT
- 9z
- Astralis
- FaZe
- magic
- paiN
- Liquid
- M80
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- 3DMAX
- Gentle Mates
- HEROIC
- Sharks
- SINNERS
- Alliance
- Wildcard
- EYEBALLERS
- HOTU
- FOKUS
- Nuclear TigeRES
- 100 Thieves
- Nemesis
- OG
Notable absences spark discussion
One of the biggest surprises for fans was the absence of NAVI from the event. Legacy, BetBoom, and B8 also failed to make the cut, leading many to question the invitation process. At the same time, the inclusion of 100 Thieves generated considerable excitement, with many fans eager to see the former Astralis core return to top-tier competition under a new banner.
Community reactions
The announcement quickly sparked discussion across social media. Several fans joked about Liquid being classified as a wildcard invite, while others celebrated the return of 100 Thieves and speculated about potential blockbuster matches against Falcons.
Some users questioned why BIG and NAVI were absent, while many supporters of FOKUS and FaZe expressed excitement about their teams’ participation. A number of comments also wondered whether all stages of the tournament would be played on LAN.
What comes next?
BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2 will officially begin on July 21 with the online phase. Eight teams will then advance to Malta, where they will compete in front of a live audience at BLAST Arena Studios between July 30 and August 2, opening the next chapter of the 2026 Counter-Strike season.
