Media: IEM Rio won't return next year

IEM Rio will not be held in 2025. After three seasons as part of ESL's international circuit, the Brazilian event has been officially canceled for next year, along with any chance of a similar event from the organizer for 2025, according to Dust2 Brasil.

Despite the city of Rio de Janeiro expressing interest in continuing to host the event, ESL has apparently decided to move on. The organizer is expected to announce the eight upcoming cities where they will host IEM-level events for 2025.

While an event in 2025 appears unlikely, ESL has been in discussions with the local government about the potential for hosting events in 2026 and beyond.

Brazil has been quite consistent in the international calendar in recent years. The nation hosted ESL Pro League finals in 2016, ESL One Belo Horizonte in 2018, BLAST Pro Series: Sao Paulo 2019, and three previous versions of IEM Rio, including the 2022 Major.

While ESL might be leaving the country, the next event scheduled in the country is PGL on FiRe which will begin in October 2026.