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6d ago

Esports World Cup Moves to Paris for 2026 Edition

Organisers say regional conditions prompted the relocation and intend Paris to prove the festival can maintain its scale and commercial appeal as it travels.

The 2026 Esports World Cup will be held in Paris from July 6 to August 23, marking the first time the tournament has been staged outside Saudi Arabia. Photo: Esports Foundation
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Overview

  • The Esports World Cup opened Monday in Paris and will run July 6 to August 23 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
  • Organisers set a record prize pool of about $75 million and say the event brings together more than 2,000 players, over 200 clubs, 24 game titles and 25 tournaments.
  • The Esports Foundation said the move was prompted by the 'current regional situation' and that French partners and government support let the foundation shift venues without shrinking the programme.
  • A global commercial push titled "Greatness Recognizes Greatness" launched with Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen and the event will be broadcast on multiple major networks and streaming platforms.
  • The Paris edition is a practical test of whether the World Cup can retain viewers, sponsors and operational scale outside Riyadh, with organisers planning to return the tournament to Saudi Arabia in 2027 and keep Riyadh central to the foundation’s year-round calendar.