The CS2 competitive calendar is entering one of its busiest stretches heading into mid-2026. Several top-tier events are converging, roster deadlines are creating movement across regions, and the Caucasus and Eastern European scenes continue their rapid growth.

Regional Scene Growth

Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan have seen a measurable uptick in ranked competitive activity since the start of 2026. Regional qualifiers for tier-2 tournaments are drawing larger fields, and several Georgian and Armenian players have broken into European rosters through open qualifiers. The growth mirrors patterns seen in Turkey two years ago, when a surge in grassroots activity preceded sustained regional representation at majors.

For the current rankings and team profiles, HLTV's team rankings provide the most up-to-date picture of the global landscape.

Skill-Based Wagering Gaining Ground

Alongside traditional competitive play, skill-based wagering platforms have seen steady adoption among competitive players who want to monetize their ranked performance without joining a full team structure. The ability to play 1v1 stake matches for USDC at any time of day appeals particularly to players in time zones underserved by organized league play.

Platforms running open weekend tournaments with sub-$5 entry fees have emerged as an accessible bridge between casual ranked play and structured competition.

What to Watch in May

Several invite-only and open qualifier events are scheduled through the end of May. Follow HLTV's event calendar for exact dates and brackets as announcements are confirmed.