Red Bull named energy drink partner for IEM Cologne Major 2026

Organizers announced via a social media post that Red Bull Gaming is the Official Energy Drink Partner of the Counter-Strike 2 IEM Cologne Major 2026. ESL FACEIT Group and Red Bull provided no information on payment, the duration of the agreement or specific activations tied to the event.

The Cologne Major runs from June 2 to June 21 in Cologne, Germany. It is the fifth CS2 Major, carries a $1.25 million prize pool and features 32 teams that qualified through the Valve Regional Standings system. The tournament’s first three stages are being played at the Palladium while the playoffs will take place at LANXESS Arena from June 18 to June 21.

Intel is the presenting partner through the Intel Extreme Masters brand. Other official partners listed for the event include Acer Predator, DHL, ZOWIE (BenQ), CHEXX, AutoFull and GRID. Red Bull Gaming has been added to that roster of partners for the Cologne Major.

Organizers have published schedules and ticketing information for the tournament. Global Esports Industry Week will run in Cologne from June 18–21 alongside the Major’s final stage and is organised in cooperation with ESL FACEIT Group.

Earlier in 2026 Red Bull was named the Official Energy Drink Partner for IEM Kraków 2026; that announcement also provided limited public detail. Previous collaborations between Red Bull and ESL-operated events have included on-site branding and product sampling, broadcast integrations, hospitality support for players and staff, and digital content promotion. For the Cologne Major, no specific activations or hospitality arrangements have been confirmed.