Esports Foundation has announced that the 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup 2026 will be hosted in Paris from July 6 to August 23, marking the first time the tournament will take place outside Riyadh.
The announcement reflects the Esports Foundation’s long-term vision of expanding its international tournaments through collaboration with audiences, publishers, partners and host markets globally. Following an extended evaluation process and considering the current regional situation, the Foundation decided to accelerate its international rotation plans for the 2026 edition.
Speaking about the move, 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 comes after the continued global growth of the Esports World Cup over recent editions hosted in Riyadh. In 2025, the event reached over 750 million viewers worldwide and generated more than 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership nearing 8 million.
The tournament was broadcast across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and more than 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching fans across 140 countries.
The 2026 edition is expected to feature over 2,000 players and 200 clubs from more than 100 countries competing across 24 games and 25 tournaments. Participants will compete for a record-breaking prize pool exceeding $75 million.
Further details regarding the venue for Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
