In October 2026, the heart of the global Counter-Strike scene will once again beat in Poland — the playoffs of ESL Pro League Season 24 will take place at the iconic Spodek Arena in Katowice. From October 9th to 11th, the world's top teams will compete for a million-dollar prize pool and the league's legendary trophy, while thousands of fans will witness historic matches live.

Spodek Arena is well-known to every CS:GO and CS2 fan — it has hosted some of the most prominent championships, and Katowice has long established itself as the esports capital of the world. IEM Katowice tournaments have produced dozens of champions and hundreds of unforgettable moments. Now, ESL Pro League returns here for the first time in many years to once again immerse the audience in an atmosphere that can't be replicated online.

Dates, Format, and Participants
The final stage of ESL Pro League Season 24 will take place from October 9th to 11th, 2026. The tournament will feature the world's best teams who have advanced through the group stages and early playoff rounds, competing for their share of the $1,000,000 prize pool. The finals will be held in a live audience format, bringing back the energy of the crowd that has been missing during the years of studio-based events.

For over a decade, ESL Pro League has been a cornerstone of competitive Counter-Strike, and we've been eager to bring it back in front of a big live audience, as esports is at its best when experienced live in-person
Mark Winter, Director of Game Ecosystems — Counter-Strike at ESL FACEIT Group.

The last time the arena hosted the ESL Pro League playoffs was in 2019 in Odense. Before that, live audience tournaments were held in Montpellier, Dallas , and São Paulo. Now this format returns — and not just anywhere, but to the very epicenter of esports history. For players, it's a chance to etch their names into the book of legends, and for fans, it's an opportunity to once again feel the magic of Spodek Arena.