The CS2 community believes that the fourth season of Premier may arrive as early as 28 January 2026. This assumption is based on patterns from previous updates and alignment with major international tournaments.
The season of big LAN events
The second Premier season was released on 29 January 2025. It landed in the final week of the month and launched on the same day as the major IEM Katowice tournament. The update was also released on a Wednesday. Valve then used the same approach going forward, which allowed users to track a clear pattern. That is why, in 2026, expectations are focused on the final days of January and on coinciding with IEM Krakow, which opens the season of big LAN events.
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When to expect Premier Season 4
Based on observations of past releases, the most realistic date mentioned is 28 January 2026. The date coincides with the end of the long-running cycle of the previous season, the calendar of major events, and the traditional update day. The first major Premier season also ended at the end of January and was immediately relaunched in a new format. This allows the assumption that Valve maintains a stable internal cycle in the game without tying it to specific announcements.
What may change together with the season launch
Along with the Premier update, the usual system adjustments are expected. Players are predicting possible tweaks to the ranking system, interface updates, changes to progress calculation, and a reset of seasonal statistics. The greatest attention is focused on a potential map pool change. After several patches with minimal adjustments, the community is hoping for the introduction of a new map or the return of classic arenas, which traditionally happens specifically in January updates.
Community reaction
Users are discussing not so much the exact date as the repetition of the pattern. The prevailing opinion is that Valve deliberately synchronizes major in-game updates with top-tier tournaments. This helps attract viewers’ attention, encourages players to return to ranked mode, and creates news hooks without direct announcements. Alongside expectations of the release, possible balance changes to weapons and alterations to round economy are also discussed; however, there is no confirmation of this yet.
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Premier Season 4
This is not an official announcement, but rather a logical forecast based on previous updates. Valve’s sequence of actions over the past two years appears consistent: late January, Wednesday, coincidence with a major championship. With that in mind, the release of Premier Season 4 specifically on 28 January 2026 appears to be the most likely scenario. At the same time, the company traditionally does not comment on timelines, so schedule changes are possible, but the release logic suggests the cycle will be preserved.
