Esports World Cup 2026 to be held in Paris in July

Paris, France — The Esports Foundation announced that the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 will be held in Paris from 6 July to 23 August 2026. After an evaluation process and considering regional conditions in the Middle East, the EWC 2026 host-rotation vision was accelerated. “Riyadh has helped to make the Esports World Cup a global phenomenon. As hosts of the EWC, Riyadh has been recognised as one of the leading esports hubs in the world,” said CEO Ralf Reichert in a written statement. “This year, we enthusiastically bring EWC to Paris for its first tournament outside Saudi Arabia.” The Esports Foundation has a long-term vision to develop its platform into an international showcase and competition through collaboration with audiences, partners, and host organisers across the world, while gradually maintaining scale, structure, and competitive integrity. “With the enthusiasm of fans in France, and the strong support we have received there, we are very excited to bring the global esports community to the next chapter of the EWC. Paris is now the first international host in the history of the EWC.” The announcement emphasises sustainable growth for the Esports World Cup and its global audience after several seasons previously held in Riyadh. In 2025, EWC reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide and recorded over 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership nearing 8 million. The event was broadcast on 28 platforms by 97 broadcasting partners and more than 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching fans in 140 countries. This year, EWC will again feature more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries. They will compete in 24 games across 25 tournaments for a total prize pool of more than $75 million.