A cryptic post by Aurora Gaming’s owner hints that Serbia could host the second CS2 Major in 2026. Here’s what we know about the possible location and how it fits into the Major calendar.
The Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) competitive scene might be heading to Serbia for the second Major of 2026, according to a recent teaser from Aurora Gaming’s owner, Valeriy “L3rich” Kharitonov. His cryptic message on Telegram has stirred speculation about the next destination in the ever-evolving Major circuit.
On May 12, just 10 minutes after the official announcement of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Kharitonov posted an image featuring five national flags. These flags appear to correspond with the countries hosting recent and upcoming CS2 Majors: China, the USA, Hungary, Germany, and Serbia. This cryptic yet timely post has led fans and analysts to believe that Serbia is being hinted at as the host of the winter CS2 Major in 2026.
The speculation fits neatly into the current and upcoming Major schedule. The 2024 Major was hosted in Shanghai by Perfect World, followed by the BLAST.tv Austin Major in the United States earlier in 2025. StarLadder is set to host the second Major of 2025 in Budapest, Hungary, with the event already drawing attention and ticket sales well underway.
Looking ahead, ESL’s legendary Cologne event is heavily rumored to be the host of the first CS2 Major in 2026. That event will run from June 8 to 21, maintaining its prestige as one of the most iconic stops on the CS2 circuit. If the timeline and Kharitonov’s post are to be believed, Serbia would then host the second Major, scheduled for November 30 to December 13, 2026.
Kharitonov’s post wasn’t an explicit confirmation, but it has enough context to be taken seriously by the CS2 community. The order of flags, starting with Hungary (just announced), followed by Germany (expected ESL Cologne 2026), and then Serbia, adds weight to the speculation. Though ESL has yet to confirm Serbia as a Major location, such leaks and cryptic hints often foreshadow official announcements in the esports world.
For now, fans can look forward to the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, which is shaping up to be a major highlight in this year’s CS2 calendar. With the esports scene becoming more global, Serbia joining the elite list of Major hosts wouldn’t be surprising, and could open new opportunities for fans and talent in the Balkan region.
As always, until official confirmation arrives, this information should be treated as speculation. But with growing chatter and coordinated hints, the odds of seeing the world’s best CS2 players battling it out in Serbia by the end of 2026 are looking more likely than ever.
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