ESL announces a massive change to IEM Cologne Major 2026 format

ESL has announced that the IEM Cologne Major 2026 will feature exclusively best-of-three matches from Stage 3 onward. Although Stages 1 and 2 will still feature best-of-ones, ESL has decided that the Valve tournament will move to the fan-favorite best-of-three format from Stage 3.

IEM Cologne Major 2026 to feature exclusively best-of-threes from Stage 3

In a post on X, ESL confirmed that the decision was made to move Stage 3 to best-of-threes only. In previous CS2 Majors, Stages 1 through 3 have all featured best-of-ones for all-but progression and elimination matches. In the MR12 format, this meant that the earlier Major stages could produce some significant upsets, leading to a general sense of unhappiness amongst fans.

Today, we're announcing a significant expansion to the #IEM Cologne Major 2026 format.

For the first time ever all matches in Stage 3 of a Major will now be played as a best-of-three series. pic.twitter.com/YWM8aEdZjd

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) February 23, 2026

To accommodate the longer matches in Stage 3, this stage will now last an extra day, running from June 11th to 15th, 2026. June 11th-13th will feature four best-of-three matches, while both the 14th and 15th will feature three best-of-threes.

This change brings Majors more in line with the wider Counter-Strike circuit, which has broadly eliminated best-of-one matches due to their unpredictability. It shows Valve is backing down on its approach to its Majors, having previously shifted to best-of-five Grand Finals from the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 onwards. The Grand Final of IEM Cologne Major 2026 will remain a best-of-five, as will all Major Finals going forward.

It is unclear why best-of-ones remain in Stages 1 and 2, though one could speculate that scheduling could become an issue with so many matches to play. If nothing else, this remains a big step in the right direction for the Major format.