IEM Atlanta 2026 CS2 Preview Teams Format Schedule

IEM Atlanta 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest North American CS2 LANs of the year, with a sixteen team main event in Atlanta, Georgia, running May 11 to May 17, 2026.

ESL has confirmed the invited teams using Valve Regional Standings invitation data as of February 2, 2026, and the final spots will be filled through the Global Closed Qualifier and the Americas Closed Qualifier.

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Quick facts for IEM Atlanta 2026

The event is a ranked ESL Pro Tour stop with a total prize pool listed at 1,000,000 USD, hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
It is also a key title race event in the ESL Grand Slam season, which is why even the invite list and roster rules matter a lot for teams planning their calendar.

Teams attending IEM Atlanta 2026

Right now, thirteen teams are confirmed via invites accepted, plus three slots marked TBD that will be decided by qualifiers.

Team	Qualification path
Team Vitality	Valve Regional Standings invite
Natus Vincere	Valve Regional Standings invite
FaZe Clan	Valve Regional Standings invite
Team Liquid	Valve Regional Standings invite
Astralis	Valve Regional Standings invite
GamerLegion	Valve Regional Standings invite
paiN Gaming	Valve Regional Standings invite
FUT Esports	Valve Regional Standings invite
NRG	Valve Regional Standings invite
Legacy	Valve Regional Standings invite
M80	Valve Regional Standings invite
B8	Valve Regional Standings invite
BC Game Esports	Valve Regional Standings invite
TBD	Global Closed Qualifier
TBD	Global Closed Qualifier
TBD	Americas Closed Qualifier

The big storyline

A major talking point already is how many top teams declined invites. HLTV reported that several top ten teams skipped IEM Atlanta due to schedule conflicts, including overlap with PGL Astana. That kind of calendar clash can seriously reshape the bracket, because it opens doors for hungry contenders to make a deep run

How to follow the event

For live match pages, results, and updated team lists as qualifiers finish, HLTV’s event hub is the fastest place to track day to day changes, while ESL’s invited teams post is the most official reference for how invites and TBD slots work.
If you are planning to attend, DreamHack’s Atlanta page also highlights that IEM is coming to Atlanta and points toward ticketing.

What to watch for before May

Qualifier winners filling the three TBD spots, especially which regions surprise people.
Roster rules and deadlines, since ESL notes roster submission timelines and majority roster requirements tied to the VRS invite date.
The final seeding announcement, since group placement can decide whether a contender gets a manageable path or an instant nightmare bracket.