Kazakh capital to host International Counter-Strike 2 Tournament
The Barys Arena will play host to the PGL Astana 2026, a major, S-Tier Counter-Strike 2 tournament, on May 15–17, Qazinform News Agency cites the Kazakh Tourism and Sports Ministry.
For the second year in a row, Astana will serve as the venue for one of the world’s largest esports events.
The tournament is organized by the PGL Esports SRL. This year, the prize pool stands at 1.6 million US dollars.
It will bring together 16 world-class squads, including Team Spirit, G2 Esports, FURIA Esports, and Heroic.
Among the special guests are Counter-Strike world champion Dauren Kystaubayev, FURIA Esports player Daniil Golubenko, streamer Slava Buster, PGL tournament host James Banks and world champion Gabriel Toledo.
The event is included in Kazakhstan’s 2026 Tourism Events Calendar.
Hosting PGL Astana strengthens the city’s position as a global esports hub and supports the growth of event tourism, the Ministry said in a statement.
Astana will also host the Phygital Games of the Future, a multi-sport international tournament blending physical sports and esports, from July 29 to August 9, 2026.
Notably, Kazakh esports player ‘molodoy’ named Rookie of the Year.
