The Esports World Cup 2026 will be held in Paris from July 6 to August 23, 2026, confirmed the Esports Foundation. This will be the first edition of this major esports competition outside Saudi Arabia, following previous editions held in Riyadh.
The organizers state that the decision was made after a lengthy evaluation process and in light of the current regional situation. The goal is to provide stability for players, clubs, publishers, partners, and fans, while maintaining the existing format, scope, and competitive integrity of the tournament.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, emphasized that Riyadh helped transform the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon, but that Paris represents an important new chapter for the competition. The French capital thus becomes the first international chapter in the history of the EWC.
The 2026 edition will once again bring together over 2000 players and 200 clubs from more than 100 countries. Competitors will compete in 24 games across 25 tournaments, with a prize pool exceeding 75 million US dollars.
