The Esports World Cup (EWC) is heading to Paris in 2026, marking the first time the global esports tournament will be hosted outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Scheduled from July 6 to August 23, 2026, the event will bring together more than 2,000 players and 200 esports clubs from over 100 countries, reinforcing the tournament’s position as one of the world’s largest competitive gaming events.
The move also signals a major step in the Esports Foundation’s long-term strategy to rotate the event internationally while expanding the global reach of esports and gaming culture.
Paris becomes the first international EWC host city
The Esports Foundation said the decision followed an extensive evaluation process and reflects the organization’s ambition to grow its global esports ecosystem through partnerships with host markets worldwide.
Paris was selected as the first international host city outside Saudi Arabia, building on the tournament’s rapid audience growth and increasing mainstream visibility over the past several years.
“Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon,” said Ralf Reichert, chief executive officer 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,” Reichert added.
Building on record global viewership
The announcement follows continued growth for the Esports World Cup’s international audience.
According to the Esports Foundation, the 2025 edition generated more than 750 million viewers worldwide and accumulated over 350 million hours watched across streaming and broadcast platforms. Peak concurrent viewership reportedly approached 8 million viewers during the tournament.
The event was distributed across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and more than 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching audiences in 140 countries.
Massive tournament scale returns in 2026
The Paris edition will once again feature 24 games across 25 tournaments, with competitors battling for a prize pool exceeding USD75 million.
The tournament’s cross-title format remains one of its defining features, allowing esports organizations to compete across multiple games for the EWC Club Championship.
The format has helped position the Esports World Cup as both a competitive gaming event and a large-scale entertainment spectacle spanning multiple esports genres and communities.
More details to follow
Specific venue details for the Paris edition are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The Esports Foundation said teams, players, clubs, and ticket holders will receive additional information directly as preparations continue.
More information about the tournament and event updates are available through the Esports World Cup website.