ESL Announces IEM Beijing 2026: Set to be Biggest IEM Event in Asia
ESL has announced that the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) will return to Beijing for IEM Beijing 2026, marking the tournament’s first visit to the Chinese capital since 2019. The event, scheduled for November 2-8, 2026, represents a significant shift in the IEM Asian tour as it relocates from Chengdu, which hosted the competition in 2024 and 2025.
The 16-team tournament will feature the world’s top Counter-Strike 2 competitors at the Bloomage Biotech·Biohyalux ECM Arena in Beijing’s Wukesong district. Organized by ESL in partnership with the Beijing Esports Industry Development Association, the event is positioned as the largest IEM event ever held in Asia. The tournament is expected to draw record-breaking attendance and will feature a 360 Stage setup, though the full prize pool details were not included in the announcement.
The return to Beijing underscores the city’s growing significance as a major esports hub in the region.