Intel Extreme Masters will return to Beijing this fall, bringing one of Counter-Strike’s most established tournament brands back to the Chinese capital for the first time since 2019, according to an announcement from ESL FACEIT Group.
IEM Beijing 2026 is scheduled for Nov. 2-8 at the Bloomage Biotech·Biohyalux ECM Arena in Wukesong, Haidian District. The event will feature 16 Counter-Strike 2 teams competing for $1.25 million in total winnings, an ESL Pro Tour Masters trophy, and points in the ESL Grand Slam VII race. EFG said the tournament is being organized in partnership with the Beijing Esports Industry Development Association as part of the “Beijing Esports” initiative.
The announcement positions the event as the largest standalone IEM tournament ever held in Asia, with EFG expecting more than 45,000 fans across the six competition days. The company also said IEM Beijing will be the first IEM event since the IEM Rio Major 2022 to use a 360-degree stage design.
For EFG, the return to Beijing is both a market signal and an operational expansion of its live-event ambitions in China. The company’s official event page lists IEM Beijing 2026 as an EPT Masters event with 16 teams and $1.25 million in total winnings, while ESL describes the broader ESL Pro Tour as a global Counter-Strike circuit with seven live events and more than $11 million in annual total winnings.
The China focus follows IEM Chengdu 2025, where EFG tested a broader live-audience model by opening the group stage to fans. According to the Beijing release, IEM Beijing will continue that approach with fans admitted throughout all six tournament days, including three days of group-stage matches, playoffs, partner activations, signing sessions with all participating teams, and other on-site programming.
“Over the past years, we’ve experienced the incredible passion and energy of Chinese fans firsthand,” Marc Winther, director of esports for Counter-Strike 2 at ESL FACEIT Group, said in the announcement. “With IEM Beijing 2026, we’re excited to take things to the next level through a 360-degree stage design and a range of fan activations, while further deepening our commitment to the region. Together with the Beijing Esports Industry Development Association, we look forward to welcoming IEM’s largest live audience in Asia to date and creating new opportunities for fans and partners.”
The Beijing partnership also aligns with local government messaging. Beijing’s municipal government said in 2025 that the city had promoted the “Esports Beijing” initiative since 2020 and framed esports as part of the city’s cultural, infrastructure, and international-exchange agenda. The announcement does not state whether the Beijing Esports Industry Development Association is providing funding, venue support, policy coordination, or other commercial consideration.
Ticketing details for IEM Beijing 2026 have not yet been disclosed. EFG also has not announced participating teams, local media partners, sponsor activations, or the financial terms of its cooperation with the Beijing Esports Industry Development Association.