Esports World Cup to Move From Saudi Arabia to France in 2026 (Gaming News Roundup)

May 21, 2026 6:17am PT Esports World Cup to Move From Saudi Arabia to France in 2026 (Gaming News Roundup)

By Arushi Jacob

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Arushi Jacob

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The 2026 Esports World Cup will be held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time in the event’s history, taking place in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23.

The Esports Foundation made the announcement, stating that “following an extended evaluation process, and in light of the current regional situation, the Esports Foundation decided to accelerate that international rotation ambition for the 2026 edition, offering clarity and stability for players, Clubs, publishers, partners, and fans worldwide, while preserving the tournament’s scale, structure and competitive integrity.”

“Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation. “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 2026 edition of the EWC will welcome over 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, who will compete in 24 games across 25 tournaments for a share of the record-breaking $75 million+ prize pool.

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