The 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC) will be hosted in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23. It will be the first time the tournament has been staged outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to the Esports Foundation (EF), the decision forms part of a long-term strategy to expand its international tournaments and competitions through collaboration with host markets, partners and audiences globally.
The organisation said that, following an extended evaluation process and “in light of the current regional situation”, it accelerated plans for international rotation for the 2026 edition.
EF said the move was intended to provide stability for players, Clubs, publishers, partners and fans while maintaining the tournament’s scale and competitive structure.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, said: “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. 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 announcement follows previous editions of the Esports World Cup held in Riyadh.
According to the Esports Foundation, the 2025 event reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated more than 350 million hours watched. Peak concurrent viewership approached 8 million viewers. The tournament was distributed across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and more than 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching audiences in 140 countries.
The 2026 event is expected to feature more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries competing in 24 games across 25 tournaments. The Esports Foundation said the competition would include a prize pool exceeding $75 million.
Further details regarding the Paris venue for EWC 2026 are due to be announced in the coming weeks.
