Major competitive Counter-Strike is scheduled to return to Portugal later this year, with the BLAST Premier Open Season 2 officially heading to Porto. The Super Bock Arena will host the final stage of the competition from September 4 to 6, 2026, bringing thousands of spectators to the city.
This upcoming tournament will mark the fourth time BLAST has hosted an event in Portugal. It follows previous landmark competitions held in Lisbon in 2018, 2022, and 2025.
Event format and prize pool
The tournament is structured across two distinct stages and locations:
- Opening Stage: The initial week of competition will take place at the BLAST studios in Copenhagen. Here, 16 of the top Counter-Strike 2 teams will compete for advancement.
- Final Stage: The top six teams from the opening stage will qualify for the finals at the Super Bock Arena in Porto, playing in front of a live audience.
- Compensation: Competing teams will battle for a share of a $1.1 million prize pool, in addition to standard participation fees.
Continued global expansion
The addition of Porto to the calendar is part of a broader expansion strategy for BLAST Premier in 2026. The circuit is branching into multiple new cities and global markets this year. Alongside Porto, the 2026 roster of host locations includes:
- Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Fort Worth, Texas, USA
- Hong Kong
Official statements and support
The BLAST Premier Open Porto is officially supported by Turismo de Portugal, with organizers aiming to showcase the region on a global esports platform and drive international tourism.
Anne Banschbach, Programme Director for BLAST Premier, emphasized the importance of the region to the organization:
“Bringing BLAST Premier back to Portugal is a special moment for us. Portugal has consistently delivered events with some of the most passionate Counter-Strike fans in the world, and bringing our events to Porto for the first time is another exciting step in a milestone year for BLAST Premier. We’re proud to continue growing our global circuit in new cities, and we can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable experience inside the Super Bock Arena this September.”
Fans looking for further details regarding the event, including ticket information and presale access, are encouraged to follow BLAST Premier across social media or visit the official BLAST.tv website.
