Upcoming Counter-Strike Majors in 2027

Argentina is anticipated to host a Counter-Strike Major for the first time, with Buenos Aires being rumored as the location for the first Major tournament of 2027. Shanghai, China is also reported to be the host city for the year’s second Major.

2027 ESL Counter-Strike 2 Tournament Details

ESL has shared its Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournament calendar for the forthcoming year, 2027, with seven events planned between January to November. However, these dates may change if a Major is awarded. Reports suggest Buenos Aires and Shanghai as potential host cities for 2027 Majors, coinciding with recent announcements from event organizers like PGL and BLAST.

The scheduled events for the year kick-off on January 25 continuing until February 7, and come to a close between October 30–November 7. The exact dates are as follows:

• January 25–February 7
• February 25–March 14
• April 3–11
• May 1–9
• August 2–15
• September 16–October 3
• October 30–November 7

Specific locations for these events are yet to be confirmed. Additionally, the first ESL event for 2026 is planned to take place in Poland, potentially outside Katowice.

Elsewhere in the 2027 Counter-Strike Scene

In addition to the ESL calendar, PGL has scheduled the first of its tournaments, PGL #1, to kick off on January 15 and wrap up on January 25, 2027. This involves a media day on January 16, followed by the competition running from January 17–24 with departure slated for January 25. Beyond this, PGL is also planning for at least 15 Tier-1 events spread out over 2027 and 2028.

Looking at the broader schedule, the Counter-Strike Major Championship Summer 2027 is noted on Liquipedia with the various stages to be announced. The top eight teams from Stage 1 are expected to advance. Additionally, EGamersWorld makes mention of a Major #2 for 2027, with it set to start on November 22, 2027. These Major events are typically sponsored by Valve, the game’s developer, and are recognized as S-Tier tournaments with hefty prize pools exceeding $1 million, open qualifiers, and featuring top gaming teams such as Spirit, NaVi, G2, and Vitality.

Juxtaposed with the above, the reports of Buenos Aires and Shanghai hosting the 2027 Majors align well with current calendars of various organizers. But, official assignments have yet to be finalized due to competition from ESL, BLAST, and PGL.

Looking Beyond 2027

In future events beyond 2027, organizers like BLAST and PGL have unveiled plans, following their 2025–2026 schedules. These plans encompass notable events like the BLAST Austin Major in June 2025 boasting a $1.25 million prize pool, and IEM Cologne which is expected to happen between July and August 2025, carrying a $1 million reward. As a reference, tier breakdowns are as follows: S-tier events offer more than $1M in prize money (ESL, BLAST, IEM), A-tier events boast a prize pool between $200K and $500K (DreamHack, Flashpoint), while B-tier competitions offer prizes between $50K and $200K (CS Summit, ECS).