The highly anticipated HLTV Awards 2026, presented by 1xBet, will take place this weekend in Belgrade, Serbia. The ceremony is scheduled for January 10 at the Blue Hall of the Sava Centar, starting at 18:00 CET. This annual event unites the Counter-Strike community to celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions across the game’s ecosystem, spotlighting professional players, teams, content creators, and events.
The award categories include three distinct segments: Panel Awards, determined by industry representatives; Community Awards, based on fan votes; and HLTV Awards, which are selected internally by HLTV. This year’s nominees encompass a blend of established stars like mezii, ZywOo, and donk, as well as notable community figures such as Freya Spiers and OhnePixel. Among the highlights of the evening will be the announcement of the Player of the Year, revealed live following HLTV’s annual countdown of the top 20 players of the season. Additional recognitions, including Team of the Year and Rookie of the Year, will also be disclosed during the event.
Hall of Fame Inductions and Industry Conference
In an exciting addition to the awards ceremony, three legends of Counter-Strike will be inducted into the HLTV Hall of Fame: Raphael “cogu” Camargo, Yegor “markeloff” Markelov, and Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer. Each inductee will receive formal recognition on stage, alongside dedicated profiles and editorial features on HLTV. They will also be honored with in-game Hall of Fame challenges, ensuring their legacy within the community.
This year marks the inaugural HLTV Awards Conference, presented by GRID, scheduled for January 9. This one-day event aims to foster industry collaboration, gathering representatives from tournament organizers, teams, and publishers to discuss key topics such as tournament production, the Counter-Strike economy, and audience growth. Notable speakers from organizations including BLAST, ESL FACEIT Group, FaZe, and 100 Thieves are expected to share insights.
The awards ceremony itself is anticipated to attract a diverse audience, ranging from professional players and coaches to broadcasters and content creators. With live presentations, Hall of Fame inductions, and the announcement of major end-of-year honors, the HLTV Awards are set to reinforce their status as one of the premier events on the Counter-Strike calendar.
