Esports World Cup coming to Paris this summer

The 2026 Esports World Cup will take place in Paris from July 6 to Aug. 23, organizers announced on Wednesday.

More than 2,000 players and 200 teams from 100-plus countries are expected to compete in 24 games with a total prize pool of more than $75 million, according to the Esports Foundation.

The first two editions of the Esports World Cup took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2024 and 2025 with $62.5 million and $71.5 million in prize money, respectively.

"Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon," Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert said in a press release. "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."

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Reichert to Paris to make the announcement.

Details on the venue and an event calendar will be announced at a later date.

--Field Level Media