Paris To Host Esports World Cup 2026 From July 6 To August 23

The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris from July 6 to August 23, giving the event its first edition outside Saudi Arabia after previous tournaments in Riyadh.

Good to Know

• Paris will host the Esports World Cup 2026 from July 6 to August 23.
• The event will include more than 2,000 players, 200 Clubs and 24 games.
• The prize pool will exceed $75 million.

Paris Gets First International EWC Edition

The 2026 Esports World Cup is leaving Riyadh for one year as the Esports Foundation brings the event to France. The foundation said the decision followed an extended review and reflected the current regional situation, while also giving players, Clubs, publishers, partners and fans clearer planning.

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, announced the Paris edition after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais Elysée on May 19. Venue details have not been released yet, but organizers said more information will follow in the coming weeks.

Reichert said:

“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.”

The format will stay large. More than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries will compete across 24 games and 25 tournaments for more than $75 million in prize money.

The last edition showed why EWC now sits among the largest gaming events in the world. In 2025, organizers reported more than 750 million viewers, over 350 million hours watched and peak concurrent viewership near 8 million. Broadcast coverage ran through 97 partners, 28 platforms and more than 800 channels in 35 languages.

Paris also gives EWC a host city with recent experience handling global sports events, after the French capital hosted the 2024 Summer Olympics. For esports, the switch also tests how well the event travels beyond its Riyadh base while keeping the same tournament scale.

The Esports Foundation said Clubs, teams, players and fans with tickets will be contacted directly. More updates will also be posted through the EWC 2026 website.