Esports entertainment company BLAST has revealed plans to host next year’s Counter-Strike Major in Austin, Texas, United States next summer. The BLAST.tv Major will take place at the award-winning, world-class arena Moody Center in June 2025.

This highly-anticipated event will bring together the best esports teams from around the world, competing for glory and substantial prize money, and is set to become one of the largest esports events ever hosted in the United States.

The city of Austin, Texas is forecasted to benefit from $40 million in economic investment, with 50,000 fans expected to attend the event along with millions of fans tuning in from 150+ territories and broadcast in 28 languages.  

BLAST has teamed up with Live Nation, global leader in live entertainment, and premier Austin-based event promoters, C3 Presents, along with Visit Austin, the official destination marketing and sales organization of the City of Austin, to bring the BLAST.tv Major to Austin in June 2025. The partnership supports BLAST’s mission to deliver the finest esports experiences by collaborating with top live entertainment partners and destinations.

Robbie Douek, CEO for BLAST, said: “We are incredibly excited to bring the BLAST.tv Major to Austin, Texas. The city's dynamic atmosphere, the cutting-edge Moody Center and track record of hosting world-leading events provide the perfect setting for what promises to be an unforgettable event. We look forward to showcasing the best of esports to a global audience and making a positive impact on the local community."

Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin, said: “We are thrilled that Austin has been selected to host the BLAST.tv Austin Major, one of the biggest esports events in the world. Austin is the perfect place to showcase the esports industry and the technology at the heart of the competition. We look forward to welcoming teams and fans from all across the globe to Austin.”

Drew Hays, Executive Director at the Austin Sports Commission, said: “We’re excited to host BLAST.tv Austin Major, Austin’s first arena-based esports competition, which we estimate will bring 10,000+ fans to Moody Center each day. For our city to have such a thriving technology sector and avid esports fanbase, an event like this is long overdue and we’re looking forward to an exciting competition next June.”

The Counter-Strike Major is one of the most celebrated and highly-anticipated esports events in the calendar year due to its prestige, established fanbase, long-standing history, global viewership and high stakes, with the world’s best players competing for a $1.25 million combined prize pool. 

The BLAST.tv Major joins a list of high-profile international sports and entertainment events taking place in Austin, alongside: Austin City Limits Music Festival, 2025 MLS All-Star Game, South by Southwest® (SXSW®), Formula 1 United States Grand Prix and more. 

The United States and North America will host its first Counter-Strike Major in seven years, following the ELEAGUE Major in Boston in January 2018. 

For more information on the BLAST.tv Austin Major, including tickets and dates updates, sign-up at https://blast.tv/register. 

Key facts and figures on the U.S. esports market: