When Is the Next CS2 Major

The current CS2 Major is the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
It runs from November 24 to December 14 2025 in Budapest Hungary with thirty two teams fighting for a one point twenty five million dollar prize pool.

Below is a full schedule a clear table and some context so DaddySkins readers know what to expect from 2025 into 2026.

Table of Contents

What Is The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

StarLadder Budapest is the second Valve sponsored CS2 Major of 2025 and the final world championship of the year. Earlier in the season the scene had the BLAST Austin Major in June as the first CS2 Major of the year.

Budapest closes the season and will likely decide the team and players everyone talks about during the winter break. Expect completely stacked storylines

New rosters that formed after Austin trying to prove themselves
Veterans chasing another Major trophy
Young stars like donk and m0NESY fighting for legacy runs

From a viewer perspective it is the winter Super Bowl of Counter Strike. From a skins perspective it is when inventories and sticker prices start moving again.

What Is The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

CS2 Major Calendar For 2025

If you want to give readers context it helps to show the full Major calendar for the year. There are two Valve backed CS2 Majors in 2025

Event	Organizer	Location	Dates	Prize Pool
BLAST Austin Major 2025	BLAST	Austin United States	June 3 to June 22 2025	One point twenty five million dollars
StarLadder Budapest Major 2025	StarLadder	Budapest Hungary	November 24 to December 14 2025	One point twenty five million dollars

Dates and prize pools are confirmed through the current tournament calendars and official event pages.

Why The Budapest Major Matters For Skins And Cases

A Major is not just about trophy pictures on HLTV

It usually affects skins economy in a few ways

New Major sticker capsules release and often become long term investments
Teams that make deep playoff runs see their stickers and player signatures spike in interest
Viewers farm souvenir packages by watching the official stream which introduces new rare combinations of skins and stickers
Content creators and case opening sites run themed promotions and giveaways around pickems and match days

Full CS2 Major Calendar For 2026

Full Schedule, Dates, Locations, and What Fans Can Expect**

With Counter Strike 2 now running on a more consistent Major cycle, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most important years in the new era of the game. Valve confirmed two CS2 Majors for the year, following the same pattern as 2025. One Major in the summer and one closing the year in late November to December.

For esports fans this means two global championships. For skin collectors it means two waves of sticker capsules, two souvenir skin drops, and two moments where the entire CS2 market wakes up at once.

Major Name	Dates	Location	Teams	Prize Pool
IEM Cologne Major 2026	June 2 to June 21 2026	Cologne Germany	Thirty two	One point twenty five million dollars
CS2 Major Championship Winter 2026	November 30 to December 13 2026	To be announced	Thirty two	One point twenty five million dollars

IEM Cologne Major 2026 Explained

Cologne has always been one of the most iconic Counter Strike cities. In 2026 it becomes the host of the summer CS2 Major. The tournament runs for nineteen days and will bring thirty two of the best teams in the world into one of the most historic esports arenas.

Fans can expect:

• Opening Swiss stage
• Second Swiss elimination stage
• Quarterfinals semifinals and grand final in the LANXESS Arena
• Massive crowds and the classic Cologne atmosphere
• New sticker capsules released at the start of the event
• Souvenir packages that will likely become long term collector items

Cologne Majors usually create legendary runs. This will be the centerpiece of the CS2 summer season and a core moment for skin traders who want to catch sticker market movements early.

Winter CS2 Major 2026

The Winter Major closes the 2026 season and takes place from November 30 to December 13. The location has not been officially revealed yet but the structure will follow the same format as the previous Majors.

Expect:

• Two Swiss stages
• An eight team playoff
• A new set of signature and team sticker capsules
• A new souvenir package collection
• A huge spike in viewership right before the holidays

This Major usually has the strongest impact on end of year skin prices since many players re enter the market during winter break and around the holiday sales.