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The first stage of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 concluded with a remarkable comeback in Counter-Strike Major history. BIG secured the last Stage 2 spot by defeating NRG 2:1, capping off the series with a stunning recovery from a 12:0 deficit on the deciding map. This result provided a memorable ending to the opening stage, transforming what was initially a steady phase into a storyline that fans will likely remember.
From a viewership standpoint, the opening stage fell below the previous Major’s early phase. However, this decline was anticipated since Stage 1 did not feature many of Counter-Strike’s top audience draws, with several high-ranking teams only entering the tournament from Stage 2. Given this context, the opening phase still maintained a strong audience base despite the absence of headline names and early eliminations.
Recap of IEM Cologne Major 2026: Stage 1 Viewership
Disclaimer: Viewership data is preliminary and may be updated within 24 hours after publication.
In terms of overall viewership performance, Stage 1 of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 fell below the previous Major’s opening phase across all key metrics. The decrease ranged from approximately 6% to nearly 19%, varying based on the metric, but the context is crucial here.
The first stage of the Budapest Major featured several major audience attractions right from the start, including FaZe Clan, Fnatic, and Ninjas in Pyjamas, which provided the tournament with a stronger foundation initially. In contrast, Cologne’s opening stage had fewer teams with similar international appeal, making the decline less concerning; instead, the event maintained a solid level of stability before the arrival of bigger names in Stage 2.
The most-watched match of Stage 1 was also the most thrilling. BIG’s 2:1 win over NRG, achieved after an impressive comeback from being 12-0 down on the final map, became the only match of the stage to surpass 400K Peak Viewers. The B8 vs M80 match came very close to reaching this milestone, falling just short by about 600 viewers, highlighting the competitiveness at the top of the match ranking despite the less prominent lineup in this stage.
Results of IEM Cologne Major 2026: Stage 1
Stage 1 of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 largely followed expectations, with a few notable upsets. Team Liquid, a top-25 team in the world rankings, failed to advance to the next stage after losing to 81st-ranked FlyQuest, while Heroic also made an early exit despite being the world’s No. 27 team. On the other hand, the top contenders such as B8 Esports and BB Team maintained their dominance with flawless 3:0 performances.
The top 8 teams advance to Stage 2:
Conversely, Gaimin Gladiators and SINNERS Esports had short-lived runs at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. After three consecutive losses, both teams were the first to be eliminated from the tournament with a disappointing 0:3 record.
The bottom 8 teams are eliminated:
It’s important to note that the teams eliminated during this stage did not leave empty-handed, each taking home $5,000 in prize money.
Matches of IEM Cologne Major 2026: Stage 2
A total of 16 teams will compete in Stage 2 of the IEM Cologne Major 2026: the top eight teams from Stage 1, along with eight high-seeded teams that qualified directly via the VRS rankings. Following the same format as the previous stage, the tournament will feature a five-round Swiss format. Initial matches will be Best-of-1, while crucial elimination and qualification matches for Stage 3 will shift to Best-of-3.
Round 1:
The top eight teams from Stage 2 will progress to Stage 3, joining the top contenders who received direct invitations. Meanwhile, the bottom eight teams will exit the tournament.
How to watch IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2?
Fans can catch all the live action on ESL’s official broadcasting platforms. During the second Swiss Stage, multiple streams (Main and Secondary) will run simultaneously to cover all matchups.
The tournament is also expected to receive extensive coverage from popular community casters. Fans can likely tune into IEM Cologne Major matches through the channels of top creators like Alexandre “Gaules” Borba, Mark “ohnepixel” Zimmermann, and Piotr “izakOOO” Skowyrski, among other prominent streamers.
The IEM Cologne Major 2026 takes place from June 2 to 21 in Germany, with the tournament moving to different venues as it progresses. Stage 1 and Stage 2 are hosted at the ESL studio, Stage 3 will be at the Palladium concert hall, and the playoffs will be held at the iconic LANXESS Arena.