Esports World Cup 2026 to Be Hosted in Paris After Riyadh Editions

The Esports Foundation (EF) has announced that the 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC) will be held in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23. The move marks the first time the global esports tournament will take place outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The event is expected to bring together more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries, reinforcing the EWC’s position as one of the largest esports competitions in the world.

According to the Esports Foundation, Paris was selected as part of its long-term strategy to rotate the tournament internationally and expand its global footprint.

Why the tournament is moving from Riyadh

The Esports Foundation said the decision followed an extended evaluation process and was influenced by the “current regional situation.” The organisation added that accelerating its international rotation plans would provide “clarity and stability” for players, clubs, publishers, partners and fans while maintaining the scale and integrity of the competition.

Riyadh had hosted the previous editions of the Esports World Cup and remains central to the organisation’s esports ambitions.

What the Esports Foundation said

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, stressed that Riyadh remains deeply connected to the tournament despite the shift to Paris.

“Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon. Riyadh is the home of EWC and one of the world's leading hubs for esports, powered by an incredible community of fans and long-term ambition for the future of the sport. This year, we're excited to bring EWC to Paris for its first edition outside Saudi Arabia,” said Reichert.

He also described Paris as a natural destination for the next phase of the competition’s growth.

“Paris has hosted some of the world's biggest sporting events and is one of the great global capitals of sport, culture and entertainment. Together with the passion of French fans and the strong support we've received locally, we're excited to bring the global esports community there for the next chapter of EWC. Paris now becomes the first international chapter in EWC history.”

The scale of the Esports World Cup

The Esports World Cup has rapidly grown into one of the biggest global gaming events in terms of viewership, participation and prize money.

According to the Esports Foundation, the 2025 edition attracted more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated over 350 million hours watched. Peak concurrent viewership reportedly approached eight million viewers.

The tournament was streamed across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and more than 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching audiences in 140 countries.

What to expect in EWC 2026

The 2026 edition will feature competition across 24 games and 25 tournaments, with a prize pool exceeding USD 75 million.

Organisers said the event will once again host over 2,000 players and 200 clubs representing more than 100 countries.

Further details regarding the Paris venue and tournament infrastructure are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

(With inputs from ANI)