The Esports Foundation (EF) has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will now take place in November 2027.
The decision follows an ongoing assessment of the wider regional situation and consultations with key stakeholders. Given the international scale of the competition and the uncertainty surrounding the region, EF said the postponement is intended to provide greater certainty and stability for National Teams, publishers, partners and fans.
The Esports Nations Cup is expected to bring together teams and stakeholders from more than 100 countries and territories. Saudi Arabia remains capable of hosting major sporting and entertainment events, with several events continuing as planned.
The postponement, according to EF, does not change its commitment to the competition or the national esports ecosystems being developed around it. All existing ENC Development Fund commitments to National Team Partners will remain in place, while ecosystem development programmes and work with publishers and other stakeholders will continue.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation said. “The decision to postpone the Esports Nations Cup was not taken lightly. The response from National Team Partners, publishers, players and communities around the world has shown us how much potential this competition has. We owe them an inaugural ENC delivered under the right conditions and at the level this idea deserves. Hosting the tournament in Riyadh next year does not change our commitment. We will continue investing in our National Team Partners, working with publishers and building the national ecosystems already taking shape around the competition. The work continues, and our ambition for ENC remains unchanged.”
The ENC has already generated participation from more than 100 countries and territories across every continent, with official partners set to bring together top players across multiple game titles.
The competition is designed to complement the existing esports ecosystem by creating new pathways for athletes, supporting national esports development and building new forms of fandom through national pride and international competition.
Over the coming weeks, EF will continue discussions with National Team Partners, publishers and other stakeholders to provide clarity on the revised competition calendar, qualification pathways and other changes resulting from the new timeline.
