IEM Krakow 2026 Viewership Record: 1,387,966 Viewers Witnessed Vitality Make History

The IEM Krakow 2026 Viewership Record has created history in the world of CS2 esports as the tournament concluded. While Vitality secured the Krakow 2026 trophy, the Polish city remains a part of history. The first flagship event of ESL became the first non-major CS2 event to enter the top 10 in terms of viewership. Interestingly, it even surpassed tournaments like Shanghai Major and ELEAGUE Major 2017.

In terms of history, the Major tournaments in CS2 surely have greater significance; however, these impressive numbers in the non-major leagues prove that Counter-Strike 2 is not dead. With that in mind, this article will provide some insight into the IEM Krakow 2026 Viewership Record and discuss how it set a new esports benchmark.

IEM Krakow 2026 Viewership Record: The First Non-Major Event to Enter the Top 10 CS2 Event Chart

Krakow always had historical significance, hosting S-Tier Counter-Strike tournaments. The newly set record is just a mere proof of that. The final day of IEM Krakow 2026 attracted 1,387,966 concurrent viewers, breaking all records of the CS2 esports.

Earlier, no non-major tournaments were in the top 10 most-watched CS2 tournaments list. The first ESL event of 2026, however, broke the record and etched its name in that list. Not only that, it even surpassed IEM Katowice 2025's viewership record and established itself as the most-watched non-major tournament to date.

The final day of IEM Krakow surely started on a good note. Newly formed Team Spirit got the podium finish under Magixx's captaincy by beating MOUZ without giving away a map (2-0) in the third-place match. Then, it was time for the ultimate battle between ZywOo and Molodoy, the two most consistent star players of the whole tournament. Even after a slow start in the first half (3-9), Fallen's army snatched the first map (Mirage) from ApEX's army.

Talking about ZywOo, check out our coverage of the HLTV Awards 2025.

While everyone thought Furia was about to get on a winning streak, the classic ZywOo storm eventually broke the roster's dream. The Brazilian team were on the back foot, and the French org started winning one after another. Moreover, ZywOo even secured the MVP award of this prestigious tournament.

It was during the winning moment of the fourth map (Overpass) that IEM Krakow 2026 views peaked across all platforms. The tournament reached a milestone, entering the top 10 most popular CS esports tournaments of all time.

What's the Next CS2 Esports Event?

While the curtains have closed on IEM Krakow, the next non-major event is PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026. 16 teams, including the champs Vitality, will be on Romanian soil to fight for another trophy. All teams on that list have been selected as per the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) ranks. As a CS2 enthusiast myself, I would like to see another record-breaking viewership as proof that Counter-Strike is still alive.

If you're interested in more news, like the IEM Krakow record broken, check out our coverage of CS2 Patch Notes, February 5, 2026.