The Esports Foundation has announced that the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) will be held in Paris, France, from Monday, July 6 to Sunday, August 23, 2026. This will be the first time that the EWC will be held outside of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
EWC 2026 to be held in Paris, France. First time outside of Riyadh.
The Esports Foundation has revealed that the EWC 2026 will be held in Paris, France. It will take place from Monday, July 6 to Sunday, August 23, 2026.
This is the first time that the EWC will be held outside of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. As a result of the EWC's gradual growth, including gaining an international audience, and the current regional situation, the decision was made to move forward with the international touring concept.
The EWC will reach more than 750 million people in 140 countries around the world in 35 languages for the 2025 Congress. Total viewing time exceeded 350 million hours, with the maximum number of simultaneous viewers reaching approximately 8 million. The 2026 tournament will feature more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries, competing in 24 game titles and 25 tournaments with a total prize pool of over $75 million. Although the stage for the competition will shift from the futuristic city of Riyadh to the glamorous capital of Paris, the EWC is sure to remain just as exciting as ever.
The specific venue in Paris will be announced in the future. For more information, please visit the official EWC 2026 website.
Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichelt comments
Riyadh has propelled the Esports World Cup into a high-profile global event. Riyadh is the home of the EWC and is one of the leading eSports locations in the world, backed by a passionate fan community and a long-term vision for the sport's future. We are delighted to be hosting the EWC in Paris this year, the first time the event will be held outside of Saudi Arabia. Paris is one of the world's leading sports, culture and entertainment capitals and has hosted many major sporting events. With the passion of French fans and strong local support, we look forward to welcoming the global eSports community to Paris for this new chapter of the EWC. Paris will mark another step forward as the first international host city in the EWC's history.