CSGO Events And Tournament Schedule For 2023

• LAN Sweet LAN | January 21st | Serbia
• BLAST Premier Spring Groups | Early 2023 | TBC
• IEM Katowice 2023 | February 2nd - 12th | Poland
• ESL Pro League Season 17 | February 21st - April 2nd | Malta
• IEM Spring 2023 | April 17th - 23rd | TBA
• ESL Challenger at DreamHack Melbourne 2023 | April 28th - 30th | Australia
• BLAST.tv Paris Major | May 8th - 21st | France
• IEM Dallas | May 29th - Jun 4th | USA
• BLAST Premier Spring Finals | Mid 2023 | TBC
• ESL Challenger at DreamHack Hannover 2023 | Jun 9th - 11th | Germany
• IEM Cologne | Jul 27th - Aug 6th | Germany
• BLAST Premier Fall Groups | Mid 2023 | TBC
• ESL Pro League Season 18 | Aug 15th - Sept 24th | Malta
• IEM Fall 2023 | Oct 16th - 22nd | TBC
• Valve-Sponsored Major 2023 | Early November | TBC
• BLAST Premier Fall Finals | Late 2023 | TBC
• ESL Challenger at DreamHack Winter 2023 | Nov 24th - 26th | Sweden
• BLAST Premier World Final | Late 2023 | TBC
• ESL Challenger at DreamHack Atlanta 2023 | Dec 15th - 17th | USA

The Counter-Strike Global Offensive calendar for 2023 is not fully confirmed but there are numerous events across the months that will see the top teams competing globally. From Major champions like Outsiders and FaZe Clan to rising talents on MOUZ and G2 Esports as well as those looking to recapture old magic like Ninjas in Pyjamas and Astralis, there will be plenty to watch throughout the year.

LAN Sweet LAN | January 21st | Serbia

While BLAST and ESL dominate the majority of the CS:GO calendar in 2023, Relog Media will be hosting the first significant LAN event of the year. LAN Sweet LAN will see the likes of MOUZ, Heroic and OG competing for a $250,000 prize pool.

It is possible that this will be the first event back for Virtus.pro since the players were made to compete under the neutral Outsiders banner due to the conflict in Ukraine. Virtus.pro was officially acquired by Armenian investors in 2022, changing hands from their former Russian ownership.

BLAST Premier Spring Groups | Early 2023 | TBC

No official date has been confirmed for BLAST Premier Spring Groups, but the circuit has begun with this event for the past few years. 12 partner teams will compete across three groups in order to secure their spots in the BLAST Premier Spring Finals.

Only six teams make it out of Groups, leaving the remaining teams to fight in the Spring Showdown later in the year.

IEM Katowice 2023 | February 2nd - 12th | Poland

The first Intel Grand Slam event of 2023 will be IEM Katowice. Not only is there a $1,000,000 prize pool at stake, but the fourth Grand Slam could be claimed by FaZe Clan who have already got three titles under their belts. Any team that beats them in the grand final in Poland could net themselves $100,000 and if they are Outsiders, Cloud9 or Team Vitality, they will be sitting on two events won.

IEM Katowice might not be a Major, but it has seen legendary CS:GO moments and history made within the Spodek Arena. With the Play-Ins from Jan 31st - Feb 1st, the action will be starting early to set the pace for the year ahead.

ESL Pro League Season 17 | February 21st - April 2nd | Malta

After Team Vitality and Team Liquid shocked everyone by making the grand final of Season 16, all eyes will be on the prize for the upcoming season of ESL Pro League. A grueling month of competition sees four groups of six battle across multiple best-of-threes. The overall winners of those are thrown into a 12 team playoffs gauntlet, finishing with a best-of-five grand final.

A test of talent and endurance, while not the most prestigious event on its own, taking the title here is a statement and a sign of consistency for the victorious team.

IEM Spring 2023 | April 17th - 23rd | TBA

With ESL announcing a return to Brazil during the IEM Rio Major, it is likely that this IEM slot could well be the event in question. As the big tier one event before the year’s first Major, IEM Spring 2023 will be a good indicator of which teams will be looking in best form and is crucially part of the Intel Grand Slam.

If FaZe fail to win in Katowice, a chance to redeem themselves whether in Rio or another Brazilian city will be one to watch. It is possible that Outsiders may also get the chance to try repeat their winning ways in Brazil if they are invited or qualify.

ESL Challenger at DreamHack Melbourne 2023 | April 28th - 30th | Australia

DreamHack has long been an iconic name within the world of Counter-Strike, so many were saddened when the brand and circuit of events seemingly ended an era many viewed fondly. Luckily, the bond between DreamHack and CS:GO is not so easily broken. ESL Challenger events will be held at various DreamHacks throughout the year.

With no IEM Sydney currently on the calendar, this may be one of Australia’s biggest LANs for CS:GO in 2023.

BLAST.tv Paris Major | May 8th - 21st | France

The first Major of 2023 and the first-ever BLAST-run Major will be taking place in France. With teams like Vitality not guaranteed but up and coming squads like Team Falcons, HEET and even LDLC all present, the battle to have French representation in Paris will be fierce.

A healthy $1,250,000 prize pool and a return to European viewing hours in a nation steeped in Counter-Strike history will make this Major one to remember.

IEM Dallas | May 29th - Jun 4th | USA

Dallas has often hosted big CS:GO events, with ESL Pro League and DreamHack visiting the city on multiple occasions, and this will mark the second time IEM lands there.

Last time around, Cloud9 were the ones to lift the trophy, but on the anniversary of that win, it will be anyone’s event. With little details outside of the dates known for the event, its position as the first event after the BLAST Major will make it interesting to watch.

BLAST Premier Spring Finals | Mid 2023 | TBC

The teams that succeeded in the Spring Groups and Showdown will meet in the BLAST Premier Spring Finals. With only eight spots in the event, it is a hotly contested affair.

With the first half of Spring before the Major, the form of teams in attendance may vary wildly depending on the results in Paris beforehand.

ESL Challenger at DreamHack Hannover 2023 | Jun 9th - 11th | Germany

Prize Pool: $100,000

Something of a warmup before IEM Cologne, Hannover will be getting a DreamHack tournament for lucky German Counter-Strike fans.

As another ESL Challenger event, it may not have the biggest names but there will be plenty of teams people recognise attending just as DreamHacks of old always delivered on.

IEM Cologne | Jul 27th - Aug 6th | Germany

The Cathedral of Counter-Strike will open its doors again in 2023. As one of the most popular events in the calendar for CS:GO, IEM Cologne is both an incredible experience in-person for fans travelling from around the world as well as a broadcast where all involved put on the best show, from talent to players.

If there is one event outside of Majors that fans and newcomers alike should be watching, most will point to IEM Cologne. A former Major event, the status and prestige of the event has remained. A place where dreams come true and legends are made, the Lanxess Arena truly is Counter-Strike’s holy ground.

BLAST Premier Fall Groups | Mid 2023 | TBC

The second leg of the BLAST Premier circuit in 2023, the Fall Groups will be essentially the same as the Spring Groups, with the same format and the same partnered teams playing through the groups.

Depending on how the year has gone for the various teams, the most significant difference will likely be seeding shaking up the groups this time around.

ESL Pro League Season 18 | Aug 15th - Sept 24th | Malta

Teams will return to Malta a second time in 2023 for ESL Pro League Season 18. Conference and ESL World Ranking teams will potentially change but you can expect the same permanent partner teams as Season 17 earlier in the year.

Since Season 7 and 8 back in 2018 with Astralis, no team has won back-to-back Pro Leagues so the previous winner in 2023 is far from guaranteed a win the second time around. With Vitality, Heroic, FaZe and Natus Vincere in the recent winner list, anything could happen in either season.

IEM Fall 2023 | Oct 16th - 22nd | TBC

It is not yet known where ESL will be hosting the second big IEM event of 2023. With the first likely taking place in South America, it is possible this event will also avoid Europe. In the past, ESL has hosted IEM events in Asia, North America and Oceania, making any destination viable.

New York is a location that has been notably missing from the calendar for several years, previously an ESL One event, but there is precedent for it to be the home of an IEM event, with a 1.6 event taking place in 2011 there.

Valve-Sponsored Major 2023 | Early November | TBC

Not much is known about which tournament organiser nor where the second Major of 2023 will be held. The only thing confirmed are the dates thanks to Valve laying out both 2022 and 2023’s Major days in advance.

Fans have been hoping for Denmark to be a host city for a Major, but with BLAST opting to host their first in Paris despite being a Danish company, it might not happen until 2024 at the latest. However, there is nothing to say an organiser like ESL, Faceit, Starladder, WePlay or PGL won’t step in to give Danish fans what they want.

BLAST Premier Fall Finals | Late 2023 | TBC

As with Spring Finals, the BLAST Premier Fall Finals will take place in the latter half of 2023. Again, teams from the Fall Groups and Showdown will earn their places here to compete for both prize money and a spot in the World Final.

2022’s Fall Finals were especially interesting post-Major as many teams in attendance were seeking a comeback after struggling in Rio, plus underdogs Fluxo represented Brazil at a top tier event after they themselves failed to make it to the Major.

ESL Challenger at DreamHack Winter 2023 | Nov 24th - 26th | Sweden

Another stop on the ESL Challenger tour will be at DreamHack Winter this year. The city of Jönköping has long been host to incredible Counter-Strike, with the original Major DreamHack Winter 2013 taking place there.

With the history around the location and teams coming into the event warmed up, there will likely be multiple Major attendees also present in Sweden.

BLAST Premier World Final | Late 2023 | TBC

The teams that have had the best year within the BLAST circuit will meet in the BLAST Premier World Final. Wins in big events such as the Paris Major and second Major of the year will see teams qualify regardless of their status as a BLAST partner team or not.

Having taken place in Abu Dhabi and Copenhagen in previous years, it is still unknown where the 2023 BLAST Premier World Final will happen just yet.

ESL Challenger at DreamHack Atlanta 2023 | Dec 15th - 17th | USA

Likely one of the final events in the 2023 CS:GO event calendar, DreamHack Atlanta will host the final ESL Challenger tourney of the year.

Taking home a slice of the $100,000 prize pool would make any team’s Christmas just that little bit brighter.