Esports World Cup 2026 headed to Paris
MANILA, Philippines — The Esports World Cup (EWC) will be staged outside Saudi Arabia for the first time, with Paris, France named as the host city for its 2026 edition.
The announcement was made by the Esports Foundation (EF), confirming that the global esports tournament will run from July 6 to August 23.
Paris becomes the first international stop for the EWC, marking a shift from its previous editions in Riyadh, as organizers move toward a long-term plan of rotating host cities worldwide.
The decision follows what EF described as an extended evaluation process, as well as current regional considerations, with the aim of providing stability for players, teams, partners, and fans while maintaining the event’s scale and structure.
“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,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation. “
On X, formerly Twitter, France President Emmanuel Macron posted the announcement as well.
The EWC will be held in Paris!
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 20, 2026
It is a historic first and an honor for us. Thank you to Saudi Arabia for their trust. We are ready to host the Esports World Cup 2026. Very proud to welcome the world once again. pic.twitter.com/agipxRsCkD
Since its launch, the EWC has grown into one of the largest esports events globally. In 2025, the tournament drew more than 750 million viewers and generated over 350 million hours watched, with broadcasts spanning 97 partners, more than 800 channels, and 35 languages across 140 countries.
The 2026 edition is expected to maintain its scale, featuring more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries. A total of 24 games across 25 tournaments will be played, with a prize pool exceeding $75 million.
Further details on the venue in Paris are set to be announced in the coming weeks, while ticket holders and participants will receive updates directly from organizers.
Defending MSC Champions at EWC, Team Liquid Philippines hopes to qualify for the Paris tournament and defend their trophy as they compete as the top seed in the upcoming MPL Philippines Season 17 playoffs beginning May 27.
Other Filipinos in EWC include Tekken star Alexandre "AK" Laverez, who qualified for EWC after finishing fourth in the Evolution Championship Series: Japan; while the Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC) has three confirmed Filipino teams: Boom Esports, Blacklist International and Team Flash Philippines.
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