Esports World Cup 2026 officially moves to Paris, France
(Courtesy : Esports World Cup 2026)
Paris becomes the first international EWC Host City outside of Riyadh
The Esports Foundation (EF) today announced that the 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), the world’s largest esports and gaming event, will be hosted in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23.
The Esports Foundation is guided by a long-term vision of growing its international tournaments and competitions through collaboration with audiences, partners and host markets around the world over time.
Following an extended evaluation process and in light of the current regional situation, the Esports Foundation decided to accelerate that international rotation ambition for the 2026 edition, offering clarity and stability for players, Clubs, publishers, partners, and fans worldwide, while preserving the tournament’s scale, structure and competitive integrity.
Esports World Cup 2026 with a $75 million+ prize pool
The announcement builds on the continued growth of the Esports World Cup and its global audience following successive editions hosted in Riyadh.
In 2025, EWC reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated over 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership nearing 8 million. The event was delivered across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and over 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching fans in 140 countries.
This edition of the EWC will once again welcome more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, who will compete in 24 games across 25 tournaments for a share of the record-breaking $75 million+ prize pool.
Conclusion
“Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation. “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.”
Details on the new venue for EWC 2026 in Paris will be announced in the coming weeks. Clubs, teams, players and fans with tickets to the event will be contacted directly. More information and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the EWC 2026 Website.
Where will the Esports World Cup 2026 be hosted?
The EWC 2026 will take place in Paris, France, making it the first edition of the tournament hosted outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
When is the Esports World Cup 2026 scheduled to take place?
EWC 2026 will run from July 6 to August 23, 2026, bringing together players, clubs, and fans from around the world.
What is the prize pool for Esports World Cup 2026?
The tournament will feature a record-breaking prize pool of more than $75 million, making it one of the biggest esports events in history.
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Mahaksh Chauhan is a passionate gaming journalist who loves for old-school RPGs and turn-based games. With a keen eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of game mechanics, Mahaksh brings an unique perspective to the world of gaming. Inspired by classics like Persona, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Skyrim, Mahaksh is dedicated in sharing the magic of games with readers. When not writing or gaming, Mahaksh can be found cheering on WWE superstars or watching his favourite Anime.