Esports World Cup 2026 will be held in Paris from July 6 to August 23, marking the first time the world’s largest esports and gaming event will take place outside Riyadh.
The announcement was made by the Esports Foundation, which said the move reflects its long-term strategy to rotate the tournament internationally through partnerships with global host markets, esports communities, and industry stakeholders.
French President Emmanuel Macron (right) meets with Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert (left) at Palais Élysée in Paris ahead of the Esports World Cup 2026, which will mark the tournament’s first edition outside Saudi Arabia.
According to Ralf Reichert, Riyadh played a key role in transforming the Esports World Cup into a global esports phenomenon. However, Paris was selected as the next destination due to its reputation as a global center for sports, entertainment, and culture, alongside strong local support for esports.
The 2026 edition follows the rapid growth of the tournament’s global audience. In 2025, the Esports World Cup reportedly attracted more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated over 350 million hours watched. Peak concurrent viewership nearly reached 8 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms, 97 broadcast partners, and more than 800 channels in 35 languages.
The upcoming tournament is expected to feature over 2,000 professional players and 200 esports clubs from more than 100 countries competing across 24 game titles and 25 tournaments. Organizers also confirmed a record-breaking prize pool exceeding $75 million.
The event highlights the continued mainstream expansion of esports as global audiences, sponsors, publishers, and governments increasingly invest in competitive gaming infrastructure and international esports events.
Additional venue details for the Paris edition are expected to be announced in the coming weeks through the official Esports World Cup website.
