The organizers of IEM Kraków 2026 have officially unveiled the opening round bracket for Stage 1. Sixteen teams will begin their campaign in a double-elimination format, with eight squads advancing to Stage 2. The matches will kick off on January 28, with the opening stage running through January 30.
Context and key matchups
Stage 1 immediately delivers several high-profile clashes. One of the most anticipated series will see Team Liquid face Ninjas in Pyjamas, two teams that met recently at BLAST Bounty and produced a tense, hard-fought matchup. Another major point of focus will be BC.Game vs Legacy, which will mark BC.Game’s LAN debut following the signing of the Portuguese core built around s1mple.
Top seed Aurora will open against GamerLegion, while B8 are set to take on NRG. It remains unclear whether headtr1ck will be part of B8’s lineup for the event.
Stage 1 opening round (January 28)
- Aurora vs GamerLegion
- HEROIC vs PARIVISION
- Team Liquid vs Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Passion UA vs G2 Esports
- Legacy vs BC.Game
- FUT Esports vs 3DMAX
- Astralis vs paiN Gaming
- NRG vs B8
All first-round matches are scheduled to start at 13:00 local time.
Teams already qualified for Stage 2
Stage 2, which will take place from January 31 to February 3, features eight directly invited teams, split into two double-elimination groups:
Group A
- FURIA
- The MongolZ
- Natus Vincere
- Team Spirit
Group B
- Vitality
- FaZe Clan
- MOUZ
- Falcons
read more
Fan activities in Kraków
Alongside the tournament action, ESL have also launched ticket sales for signing sessions, allowing fans to book meet-and-greet opportunities with the tournament’s top six teams and collect autographs on site. IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1 promises a packed opening to the season, combining elite competition, roster debuts, and immediate high-stakes battles as teams fight for a place among the event’s top contenders.
