[Photo via VCG]

The world-renowned Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) esports tournament is coming to Beijing! As a key event of the "Esports Beijing 2026" series, the tournament will take place at Wukesong Arena (Bloomage Biotech-Biohyalux ECM Arena) from November 2 to 8, with "Counter-Strike 2" as the featured title.

As one of the world's longest-running professional esports tournaments, IEM has hosted events across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. This year's tournament in Beijing will have a total prize pool of 1.25 million US dollars and bring together 16 of the world's top teams. The competition will consist of two stages—Group Stage and Playoffs, delivering a week of elite-level matches for audiences worldwide.

IEM Beijing 2026 will be the first IEM event to, since IEM Rio 2022, feature a 360-degree stage, offering a more immersive experience for both players and spectators. The tournament will welcome in-person audiences on all six match days, with attendance expected to exceed 45,000. It is expected to become the largest standalone IEM event ever held in Asia.

(Source: The Beijing News)