In the coming years, the legendary Spodek Arena in Katowice will once again host the final stages of a major CS2 tournament. Following the official announcement that ESL Pro League Season 24 will take place in Katowice from October 9 to 11, 2026, this return to Spodek is a true celebration for esports fans.
History of Spodek Arena
- Spodek has long been a symbol of the Counter-Strike community, hosting numerous top-tier tournaments:
- EMS One Katowice 2014 — one of the first CS:GO Majors, held from March 13 to 16, 2014 at Spodek; winners — Virtus.pro
- ESL One Katowice 2015 — Major tournament from March 12 to 15, 2015; winners — Fnatic
- IEM Katowice Major 2019 — one of the most prestigious stops in the IEM series, held from February 13 to March 3, 2019; winners — Astralis
- The arena has regularly hosted Intel Extreme Masters World Championships in multiple seasons — 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 — all featuring CS:GO and CS2 competitions at Spodek Arena.
For example, in 2016, the final stage of IEM Season X — World Championship was held at Spodek, with Fnatic taking the trophy.
ESL Pro League Season 24 Heads to Katowice
ESL FACEIT Group has officially confirmed that ESL Pro League Season 24 will take place at the legendary Spodek Arena in Katowice from October 9 to 11, 2026. The tournament will feature a $1,000,000 prize pool, with thousands of fans expected to fill the arena and watch the world’s best CS2 teams compete for the prestigious ESL Pro League trophy.
This will be the first time ESL Pro League playoffs return to a large arena format since 2019, when the event was held in Odense, Denmark. Organizers emphasize that Katowice was chosen for a reason: the city has long been considered one of the world’s esports capitals, and Spodek is a venue where spectators truly experience the magic of Counter-Strike. Traditionally, Spodek offers a unique atmosphere — roaring fans, a grand stage, light shows, and the electric energy of the crowd that gives players an extra push in decisive moments.
Katowice’s Esports Legacy Lives On
Although the legendary IEM Katowice tournament will move to Kraków from 2026, with Tauron Arena becoming its new home, the return of ESL Pro League to Katowice’s Spodek Arena is a highly symbolic event. It shows that the city, synonymous with global esports, is not losing its status and remains at the heart of the Counter-Strike community.
For fans, it’s a chance to once again see the world’s best teams in the very place where some of the most iconic matches in CS history took place. For players, it’s an opportunity to feel the legendary atmosphere that has often influenced the course of tournaments and become a decisive factor in the fight for victory. In this way, ESL Pro League in Katowice could mark the beginning of a new wave of major events in the city, putting Spodek back at the center of the global esports scene.
Source: pro.eslgaming.com
