ESL announces Qualifier details for 2026 events
ESL has released the full breakdown of all qualifier formats, dates, and structural updates for next year’s ESL Pro Tour. They have also confirmed that three ESL Pro Tour events in 2026 will feature open qualifiers.
A major addition for the new season is the introduction of Global Qualifiers, which will be hosted on European servers. The goal is to reduce travel demands for teams who previously had to compete across multiple regional events.
IEM Brazil 2026 Qualifiers
The season will kick off with IEM Brazil Qualifiers in 2026, based on VRS in January 2026. From the Global Qualifier, four teams will be heading from the Open Qualifiers to Closed Qualifiers, which will have a total of 16 teams compete for two slots. IEM will also host Americas Qualifier, which will be played on South American FACEIT servers, and will have one slot for the main event.
Global Qualifier
Open Qualifier:
Dates
January 16-17
Format
Single-elimination, BO1; deciders BO3
Prize
Top 4 head to Closed Qualifier
Closed Qualifier
Dates
January 21-23
Format
Double-elimination, all BO3
Prize
Top 2 teams go to main event
Americas Qualifier
Open Qualifier
Dates
January 16-17
Format
Single-elimination, BO1; deciders BO3
Prize
Top 4 head to Closed Qualifier
Closed Qualifier
Dates
January 21-23
Format
BO3, double-elim
Prize
Top team goes to IEM Brazil
IEM Atlanta 2026 Qualifiers
The next event, IEM Atlanta 2026, will have their Qualifiers run based on the VRS of February 2026. The Qualifiers will follow the same format as IEM Brazil, as two slots will be reserved from the Global Qualifiers, and one from the Americas Qualifiers for the main event.
Global Qualifier
Open Qualifier
Dates
February 7-8
Format
Single-elim, BO1; deciders BO3
Prize
Top 4 head to Closed Qualifier
Closed Qualifier
Dates
February 10-12
Format
BO3 double-elim
Prize
Top 2 team qualifies for main event
Americas Qualifier
Open Qualifier
Dates
February 7-8
Format
Single-elim, BO1; deciders BO3
Prize
Top 4 goes to Closed Qualifier
Closed Qualifier
Dates
February 10-12
Format
BO3 double-elim
Prize
Top team goes to main event
IEM China 2026 Qualifiers
For their next event, IEM will head to China in August. The Qualifiers will follow VRS of August 2026, and will once again have two slots from Global Qualifiers, and one slot from the Asian Qualifier reserved for the main event.
Global Qualifier
Open Qualifier
Dates
August 24-25
Format
Single-elim, BO1; deciders BO3
Prize
Top 4 goes to Closed Qualifier
Closed Qualifier
Dates
September 2-4
Format
BO3, double-elim
Prize
Top 2 teams go to main event
Asia Qualifier
Open Qualifier
Dates
August 24-25
Format
Single-elim, BO1; deciders BO3
Prize
Top 4 teams go to Closed Qualifier
Closed Qualifier
Dates
September 2-4
Format
BO3, double-elim
Prize
Top team goes to main event
Also read
