StarLadder has revealed the full schedule for the Budapest Major 2025, the final and most anticipated tournament of the year. The event begins on November 24 and will feature three Swiss stages followed by playoffs after a three-day break. It will conclude on December 14 with a BO5 grand final at the MVM Dome. As the first Major ever hosted in Budapest, the tournament marks a decisive finale to one of the busiest and most unpredictable seasons of the CS2 era.
MTK Sportpark and MVM Dome — the Two Core Venues of the Budapest Major 2025
📅 Time to plan your Major days!
🫡 The StarLadder Budapest Major schedule has landed and it all begins on November 24.
Get ready and don’t miss the action! pic.twitter.com/YcJOMk4CUE— StarLadder CS2 (@StarLadder_CS) November 14, 2025
StarLadder confirmed two separate arenas for the event.
- MTK Sportpark (Stages 1–3)
This compact 2,000-seat venue creates an intimate, almost studio-like atmosphere. Here, the fate of 24 teams fighting for eight playoff spots will be decided. Additionally, the setup brings back the feeling of old-school Majors, where group-stage matches unfolded in a tightly packed hall full of raw crowd energy.
- MVM Dome (Playoffs)
In contrast, the 20,000-seat MVM Dome will host the decisive stage. The organizer promises a full light show, fan activities, a unique stage layout, and a rare BO5 grand final — a format that StarLadder has embraced as part of its modern identity.
read more
Tournament Format: Three Swiss Stages, Scheduled Breaks, and High-Pressure Playoffs
StarLadder retains the classic three-step Swiss structure.
Stage 1 — November 24–27
- 16 lowest-seeded teams
- BO1 matches except 2–0 and 0–2 games, which are BO3
- Schedule:
- Day 1 — 14:00
- Days 2–4 — 16:00
Stage 2 — November 29 – December 2
- 16 teams (eight from Stage 1 + mid-seeds)
- Same format and schedule as Stage 1
Stage 3 — December 4–7
- 16 top-seeded teams
- BO1 only at the start; all decisive matches are BO3
- Schedule:
- Day 1 — 14:00
- Days 2–4 — 16:00
Playoffs — December 11–14: The Final Battle of the Season
After Stage 3, teams will receive a three-day break to prepare for the high-stakes finish.
Playoff schedule at MVM Dome:
- December 11 — Quarterfinals (Matches 1 & 2) — 18:00
- December 12 — Quarterfinals (Matches 3 & 4) — 18:00
- December 13 — Semifinals — 18:00
- December 14 — BO5 Grand Final — 19:00
Moreover, the BO5 final has become a signature feature of StarLadder events, solidifying the organizer’s unique competitive identity.
Stage 1 Opening Matches: November 24 — All 16 Teams Debut on Day One
StarLadder also confirmed the full first-round matchups, promising one of the most action-packed opening days a Major has seen in years.
Day 1 Schedule (CET)
14:00
- B8 vs M80
- Imperial vs Rare Atom
15:00
- Legacy vs FlyQuest
- PARIVISION vs The Huns
16:00
- Ninjas in Pyjamas vs NRG
- GamerLegion vs Fluxo
17:00
- Fnatic vs RED Canids
- FaZe vs Lynn Vision
These matchups will immediately test how prepared each region is. For example, North American and Asian teams will try to disrupt early predictions, while European lineups aim to maintain stability from the very start.
read more
Budapest Major 2025 — The Defining Event of the Year
The Major will close out a season that delivered:
- Falcons’ spring dominance
- Legacy’s surprising rise
- FURIA’s historic IEM Chengdu victory
- turbulent VRS battles before the Major
- the return of packed arenas, fan events, and BO5 finals
Altogether, the Budapest Major 2025 represents the culmination of all these storylines. As a result, November 24 marks the beginning of the final chapter that will determine the ultimate champion of the year.
