Everything you need to know about PGL Bucharest 2026

Bucharest, Romania — June 3, 2025 — PGL is excited to share the details for PGL Bucharest 2026, a Tier 1 Counter-Strike 2 tournament happening April 3–13 at PGL Studios in Bucharest, Romania. The top 12 Global VRS teams will be invited to the Main Event (LAN), with an additional four teams qualifying for the Main Event through Open and Closed Qualifiers (Online). 16 teams will fight for glory and total winnings of $1,250,000.

Open Qualifiers (February 14-17)​

Closed Qualifier Format (February 26 - March 1)​

Four teams will join the other 12 directly invited teams at the end of the Closed Qualifiers. 

This event continues PGL’s legacy of hosting high-stakes international competitions, bringing together elite teams in a top-tier production environment.

Fans can expect an unforgettable tournament as teams battle for their share of the $1.25 million in total winnings, delivering high-level competition and intense matches.

A roster is eligible to participate in a Tournament via a Direct VRS Invite only if at least three of the athletes on the roster were also part of the roster on the Invite Date.

If any Rosters cannot accept, or choose to decline the Direct VRS Invite, Tournament Operator shall proceed down the VRS in order until all announced slots to the Tournament are filled.

If a team does not receive the necessary visa(s) by the designated deadline, the Direct Invite will be offered to the next team in VRS. The tournament will take place in Schengen Area. 

If a player or players are banned by Valve and the team no longer meets the eligibility criteria in Roster Eligibility, the team may lose the Direct VRS Invite.

Teams and players should not have any financial interest in the success of any team that they are competing against. To participate in these tournaments, players and teams are required to affirm that they have no conflict of interest (including any business entanglement such as shared management, shared ownership of entities, licensing, and loans) with any other participating team or its players.

Tournament Operator and Tournament staff may not have any business relationship, including, but not limited to, shared management, shared ownership of entities, licensing, and loans, whether related to Valve Games or otherwise (each an “Entanglement”) with any Participant unless approved by Valve and publicly disclosed. An Entanglement is considered approved if (a) it is disclosed to Valve in writing and (b) publicly disclosed and (c) Valve has not objected to within 90 days of the disclosure to Valve; provided that only disclosures after the Effective Date of the Agreement shall trigger the 90 days period.

Within its sole discretion, Valve reserves the right to a) require that Tournament Operator address and remove the Entanglement within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed two weeks, or b) terminate the Agreement without cost or penalty for Valve.

An explicit or implicit approval by Valve shall be valid for the duration of one year starting on the date that Valve has received disclosure, unless explicitly otherwise scoped by Valve when granting the approval. The approval period shall thereafter auto-renew by the same time it was initially granted until terminated.

Any team or player found to be involved in any of the following will be subject to disqualification and removal from the tournament:

The use of cheats, hacks, or any third-party software that provides an unfair advantage is strictly prohibited.

Participation in or attempted manipulation of match outcomes for personal or third-party gain.

If a team does not respond to the tournament invitation within the specified deadline, the invitation will be considered declined. The slot will then be offered to the next eligible team based on the VRS list.

Teams must submit their full tournament roster—including a minimum of five players, one coach, and one substitute—by the deadline provided. Failure to do so will result in the team forfeiting their tournament slot unless the deadline is officially extended for all participating teams.