BLAST is opening a new chapter in the history of Counter-Strike tournaments—it's the first time the series will be held in the Netherlands. Organizers have announced that from March 27 to 29, 2026, the BLAST Premier Open will take place at Rotterdam's Ahoy Arena. This will mark the tournament's debut in the country and one of the largest esports events ever held in the Netherlands.

All About the Tournament: Dates, Teams, and Prize Pool

BLAST Open Rotterdam will run from March 16 to 29, 2026. Over two weeks of qualifiers, the 16 best CS2 teams will compete for a total prize pool of $1.1 million. Of this, $400,000 will be awarded as cash prizes, and $700,000 will be distributed to the teams.

The tournament format is as follows:

• 12 teams will receive direct invitations based on Valve's global ranking,
• 4 teams will qualify through open qualifiers.
• Out of the 16 participants, only the top 6 will advance to the final stage to play in front of an audience at Ahoy Arena.

BLAST Open in Rotterdam is more than just another tournament. It's the Netherlands' debut on the list of world-class esports venues and a landmark event for the entire CS2 scene. It will attract spectators from all over Europe, enhance BLAST's international influence, and reaffirm Counter-Strike's status as a discipline capable of drawing tens of millions of views and thousands of fans to stadiums.