ESL announces IEM Rio 2026

ESL has announced the TO's return to Rio next year. IEM Rio is joining IEM Atlanta, IEM Krakow, and IEM Cologne Major as ESL's Intel Extreme Masters events next year.

IEM China has also been announced, but the host city has not yet been revealed.

IEM Rio will run from May 11th to May 17th, 2026. The top eleven teams will be invited from the Global VRS filter. The top teams from North and South America will be invited as well, with two teams coming from the Global Closed Qualifer and the final team from the South American Closed Qualifier.

IEM was last in Rio during 2024, where NAVI defeated MOUZ in the final, led by Mihai "iM" Ivan.

The Brazilian faithful will be revved up to support FURIA, who are currently one of the very best teams in the world with captain Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo at the helm.