Building on its 2026 CS2 tournament calendar, organizer PGL has revealed the initial teams invited to the PGL Astana 2026 Counter-Strike 2 event. The tournament will feature 16 teams competing in Kazakhstan for a $1.6 million prize pool. Four additional spots will be filled through regional qualifiers.
PGL announced the first batch of invited teams for PGL Astana 2026 via its official account on X. Previously outlined in PGL's 2026 CS2 events calendar, the tournament is scheduled for May 9 to May 17, 2026, in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and will bring together top teams from the Counter-Strike 2 scene.
The invited teams that have confirmed their participation are: PARIVISION, Team Falcons, Team Spirit, G2 Esports, The MongolZ, FURIA, Aurora Gaming, HEROIC, Gentle Mates, Monte, and FUT Esports. Four additional spots will be filled through regional qualifiers in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.
The total prize pool stands at $1.6 million, with $800,000 distributed among the teams and another $800,000 allocated to the organizations. The winner will receive $256,000 for the team and an additional $256,000 for the organization.
This announcement highlights PGL's commitment to hosting major international Counter-Strike 2 competitions, providing opportunities for teams from various regions to compete at a high level.