BLAST Open Fall 2026 gathers 16 teams for 1.1 million dollars

The Counter-Strike 2 scene is preparing for one of the most important stops of the autumn calendar. BLAST Open Fall 2026 begins on Wednesday, 26 August, split between Copenhagen and Porto, with a total prize pool of 1,100,000 dollars and a guaranteed place in the circuit’s history.

Tournament format and calendar

The event, organised by BLAST itself, will stretch over twelve days, ending with the grand final in front of a live audience on Sunday, 6 September. Sixteen elite teams compete for club points, positions in the global ranking and, of course, the trophy.

The group stage opens proceedings on 26 August, with the teams split into two brackets of eight organisations in GSL format, all in best-of-three. The top four in each group advance to the playoffs, which start on 4 September. Quarter-finals and semi-finals stay in best-of-three, while the grand final is played in best-of-five, deciding everything at the Porto arena.

Favourites: Falcons ahead, but with strong competition

Team Falcons arrive as the team to beat. Reigning Major champions, the organisation still has one of the most complete rosters in the world, even after a stumble in the Esports World Cup quarter-finals. The expectation is that the team will again resemble the version that lifted the trophy in Cologne.

Team Spirit appear just behind, freshly crowned at the Esports World Cup and with a Major semi-final on their recent record, plus a runners-up finish at BLAST Bounty Summer. Team Vitality, despite a drop in form in recent months, still carry the historical weight and tactical experience to chase another big title.

Other names also enter the conversation for decisive playoff spots:

• FURIA, runners-up at the Cologne Major and fourth at the EWC
• Natus Vincere, champions at IEM Atlanta in May but inconsistent since
• MOUZ, reigning BLAST Bounty champions, eliminated in the EWC quarter-finals by FUT Esports

Where to follow it and how to bet

The matches will be broadcast on BLAST’s official channels across the main streaming platforms. Leading bookmakers for the CS2 market, such as Stake, are also expected to offer free coverage and live betting lines for registered users.

For anyone who likes a punt, Falcons emerge as the safest pick for the title, given their recent record and the individual quality of the roster. MOUZ, meanwhile, stand out as an interesting alternative bet: consistency is the team’s trademark, and a good start in the group stage could be the push they need to trouble the favourites in Porto.