The road to the IEM Cologne 2026 Major officially begins with Stage 1, where 16 teams will battle for a place in the next phase of the tournament. While some organizations arrive as clear favorites, others will be looking to make a statement and pull off an upset on Counter-Strike’s biggest stage.
Only eight teams will survive the opening stage and advance further in the competition. With a Swiss format, every match matters, and even a single upset can completely change the trajectory of a team’s Major run. If you’re planning to participate in the Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge, Stage 1 is often where the most valuable points are earned — and lost.
IEM Cologne 2026 Stage 1 Format
Stage 1 will take place from June 2–5 and feature 16 teams competing in a Swiss System format. Teams with the same record will face each other throughout the stage. All advancement and elimination matches are played as BO3 series, while all other matches are BO1. The top eight teams advance to Stage 2, while the remaining eight teams are eliminated from the tournament.
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IEM Cologne 2026 Stage 1 Schedule
June 2 — Swiss Round 1
- M80 vs Lynn Vision — 12:30 CEST
- SINNERS vs FlyQuest — 12:30 CEST
- B8 vs TYLOO — 13:30 CEST
- MIBR vs THUNDERdOWNUNDER — 13:30 CEST
- GamerLegion vs NRG — 14:30 CEST
- HEROIC vs Sharks — 14:30 CEST
- BetBoom vs Gaimin Gladiators — 15:30 CEST
- BIG vs Liquid — 15:30 CEST
June 2 — Swiss Round 2
- Round 2 Match #1 — 17:30 CEST
- Round 2 Match #2 — 17:30 CEST
- Round 2 Match #3 — 18:30 CEST
- Round 2 Match #4 — 18:30 CEST
- Round 2 Match #5 — 19:30 CEST
- Round 2 Match #6 — 19:30 CEST
- Round 2 Match #7 — 20:30 CEST
- Round 2 Match #8 — 20:30 CEST
June 3 — Swiss Round 3
- Round 3 Match #1 — 14:30 CEST
- Round 3 Match #2 — 14:30 CEST
- Round 3 Match #3 — 15:30 CEST
- Round 3 Match #4 — 15:30 CEST
- Round 3 Match #5 (BO3) — 16:30 CEST
- Round 3 Match #6 (BO3) — 16:30 CEST
- Round 3 Match #7 (BO3) — 19:00 CEST
- Round 3 Match #8 (BO3) — 19:00 CEST
June 4 — Swiss Round 4
- Round 4 Match #1 (BO3) — 14:00 CEST
- Round 4 Match #2 (BO3) — 14:00 CEST
- Round 4 Match #3 (BO3) — 16:30 CEST
- Round 4 Match #4 (BO3) — 16:30 CEST
- Round 4 Match #5 (BO3) — 19:00 CEST
- Round 4 Match #6 (BO3) — 19:00 CEST
June 5 — Swiss Round 5
- Round 5 Match #1 (BO3) — 14:00 CEST
- Round 5 Match #2 (BO3) — 16:30 CEST
- Round 5 Match #3 (BO3) — 19:00 CEST
Where to Watch
All Stage 1 matches of the IEM Cologne 2026 Major will be broadcast live on ESL’s official channels across multiple platforms. Fans can watch the English-language stream on Twitch and YouTube, while regional broadcasts will also be available in several languages.
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In addition to the official coverage, ESL allows community co-streams for approved creators. If you plan to host your own watch party or broadcast the matches, make sure to follow ESL’s official co-streaming guidelines and requirements.
- ESL Counter-Strike Twitch
- ESL Counter-Strike YouTube
- Regional broadcasts
- Approved community co-streams
Community co-streams are also available, but creators must follow ESL’s official co-streaming rules and guidelines.
Join the Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge
The Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge returns for the IEM Cologne 2026 Major, giving fans a chance to test their Counter-Strike knowledge while competing for rewards. Simply predict which teams will advance, which squad will finish 3-0, and which team will be eliminated with a 0-3 record.
The better your predictions, the more points you earn throughout the Major. Top-performing participants can unlock reward tiers and compete for some of the most valuable prizes available during the event.
Make sure to submit your predictions before Stage 1 begins and see how your Pick’em compares against the rest of the community.
