Patryk Stachowiak
The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed that the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) will be held in Paris, France, running from July 6 through August 23. The decision marks the first time the world’s largest esports and gaming event moves outside of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where previous editions established the EWC as a globally recognized competitive spectacle.
The move accelerates the Esports Foundation‘s long-term global rotation strategy, a plan shaped through an extended evaluation process. The organization cited the current regional situation as a factor in fast-tracking the international expansion, while stressing that the tournament’s scale, structure, and competitive integrity remain intact. President Emmanuel Macron met with Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, at the Palais Élysée on May 19, 2026, signaling strong institutional backing from the French government.
“Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon. 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.” — Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports Foundation
The 2025 EWC reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide, generating over 350 million hours watched. Peak concurrent viewership approached 8 million. The event was distributed across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and over 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching fans in 140 countries.
The 2026 edition will again bring together more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, competing across 24 games in 25 tournaments for a share of a record-breaking $75 million+ prize pool.
Venue details specific to the Paris location will follow in the coming weeks. Clubs, teams, players, and ticketholders will receive direct communication. Full information and FAQs are available on the official EWC 2026 website at esportsworldcup.com.
The Esports Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on sustainable global growth for competitive gaming. Its flagship event, the EWC, operates on a cross-title format where top organizations compete across multiple games for the EWC Club Championship, the sport’s most prestigious team honor. Follow TipsGG for continued coverage of the Esports World Cup 2026 as venue details, schedules, and competitive lineups are confirmed.