IEM Rio 2026 Confirmed: Dates, Prize Pool, and Format Revealed

The tournament will take place from April 13 to 19, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro. A total of 16 teams will compete, with a $300,000 prize pool on the line. Ticket sales will begin on December 15, as ESL announced on their official X (Twitter) page.

Prize distribution

• 1st place — $125,000
• 2nd place — $50,000
• 3rd place — $30,000
• 4th place — $20,000
• 5th–6th place — $12,500 each
• 7th–8th place — $7,000 each
• 9th–12th place — $5,000 each
• 13th–16th place — $4,000 each

Format

IEM Rio 2026 will feature a group stage followed by the playoffs. During the group stage, the 16 teams will be split into two groups of eight, playing in a double-elimination (GSL) format, with all matches played as Bo3. The top three teams from each group will advance to the playoffs: group winners will move directly to the semifinals, second-place teams will enter the quarterfinals as High Seeds, and third-place teams will advance to the quarterfinals as Low Seeds. The playoffs will be played in a single-elimination bracket, with all matches except the Grand Final played as Bo3, while the Grand Final will be a Bo5 series.