BLAST announced the schedule for their events in 2026, giving fans an early preview of what's to come. But the news is not just about 2026: the tournament calendar for 2025 will bring a fresh approach, including a revamped format with a new structure and division into two seasons. Organizers promise more intrigue, intense competition, and new challenges for teams on their path to glory in Counter-Strike.
Expanded BLAST calendar for 2026
The new season will kick off with the BLAST Bounty tournament, starting on January 12 and concluding on January 25, setting a high tone for the year. In March, we will see the first Open from the 16th to the 29th, followed by Rivals from April 27 to May 3, ending the first season. The second season will start on July 20 with Bounty and last until August 2. The Open tournament is scheduled for August 24 - September 6, and the season will conclude with Rivals from November 9 to 15.
Fresh format for 2025: BLAST Bounty, Open, Risings, and Rivals
To meet new challenges in the world of Counter-Strike, BLAST is implementing changes to the event structure for 2025, promising to add new levels of intrigue and competition. Each tournament will have its winner and unique participation conditions. Each season will feature four tournaments: Bounty, Open, Risings, and Rivals, with final locations yet to be confirmed.
Organizers also announced the invitation dates for BLAST 2025 tournaments. Within the new tournament system, BLAST introduces a format where each team will know its participation opportunities in advance. BLAST emphasizes that 2025 will be a significant milestone for the development of Counter-Strike, and the new schedule will ensure a high level of competition at each tournament.
Tournament features: format, rewards, participants
The new BLAST Bounty format will allow teams to earn rewards by "hunting" for high-ranking opponents. The tournament will feature 32 teams, 28 of which will be invited based on Valve Global Rankings, and four teams will receive a wildcard from BLAST. First-round events will be held online, and the LAN portion will take place in BLAST Studios.
The Open promises to be the biggest tournament in traditional arenas like MEO Arena in Lisbon and OVO Wembley Arena in London, featuring 16 teams competing in a double-elimination group stage.
The BLAST Risings tournament will focus on regional competitions and give teams that didn't make it to the Open a chance to showcase themselves on the international stage. The Risings tournament will be divided into four regions—Europe, North America, Asia, and South America. Each region will feature 12 teams, and the winners will get the opportunity to compete in the Rivals tournament, facing the strongest opponents.
Rivals will be the culminating stage of each season, where the best teams will meet in a LAN tournament. Participants will compete in a GSL format, and the final series will be held in a Bo5 format, highlighting the significance of this tournament. Rivals will be not only a test of strength for the teams but also an important milestone for determining the best teams of the season, preparing them for even greater challenges in the next BLAST season.
Financial incentives for teams
The prize pool and new participation system promise significant financial support for teams in 2025. Bounty will have a prize pool of $1.3 million, Open — $1.4 million, and Rivals will provide teams with guaranteed payouts of $81,250 for each of the eight participants. Additionally, the "Frequent Flyer" system will provide bonus incentives for teams that frequently participate in BLAST tournaments.
Importance of changes for esports
The new BLAST format creates diversity and a sense of risk, ensuring teams have the chance to prove their superiority in the most competitive conditions. The changes are focused on the development of Counter-Strike, attracting new teams and players, making BLAST an important element of the esports ecosystem.
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