Esports World Cup Heads to Paris

The Esports Foundation said on May 20 that the 2026 Esports World Cup will be held in Paris from July 6 through Aug. 23, moving the event outside Saudi Arabia for the first time. The organizer said the tournament will keep its scale, format and prize structure after an “extended evaluation process.” Paris becomes the first international host city in the event’s history, after previous editions in Riyadh. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the decision in a statement published by the Élysée Palace. ### When did the move to Paris become official? May 20 was the date the Esports Foundation publicly announced Paris as host for the 2026 event, according to its press release. The foundation said the tournament would run for seven weeks and described Paris as the first host city outside Riyadh. The Élysée Palace published its own statement the same day, saying France had been selected to host the Esports World Cup in Paris from July 6 to Aug. 23, 2026. (esportsworldcup.com) Macron’s office said the edition would be the first held outside Saudi Arabia since the championship began. ### Why is the tournament leaving Riyadh this year? The Esports Foundation said the decision followed an “extended evaluation process” and was made “in light of the current regional situation.” The organizer said the change was intended to provide “clarity and stability” for players, clubs, publishers, partners and fans while preserving the event’s “competitive integrity.” (elysee.fr) (esportsworldcup.com) Ralf Reichert, chief executive of the Esports Foundation, said Riyadh “helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon” and called the Saudi capital “the home of EWC.” He said Paris would host “the next chapter” and become “the first international chapter in EWC history.” ### How big is the 2026 event supposed to be? (esportsworldcup.com) The Esports Foundation said the 2026 edition will again bring together more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries. It said competitors will play across 24 games and 25 tournaments for a prize pool of more than $75 million. The foundation also pointed to the event’s recent audience scale. (esportsworldcup.com) It said the 2025 Esports World Cup reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide, generated more than 350 million hours watched, and was distributed across 28 platforms, 97 broadcast partners and more than 800 channels in 35 languages. ### What does France say it is bringing to the event? (esportsworldcup.com) Macron’s office said Paris offers the infrastructure needed for a seven-week competition and said the event would engage tourism, hospitality, retail and cultural sectors. The Élysée also cited France’s recent hosting of the Six Invitational at Adidas Arena and the RLCS Major 2 at Paris La Défense Arena as evidence of the country’s esports track record. (esportsworldcup.com) The French presidency said three home clubs — Team Vitality, Gentle Mates and Karmine Corp — are expected to compete in front of a local crowd. It also said esports reaches more than 12 million players in France. ### What still has not been announced? The Esports Foundation said details of the Paris venue will be released “in the coming weeks.” It also said clubs, teams, players and fans with tickets to the event will be contacted directly. (elysee.fr) The Esports World Cup website says more information and frequently asked questions are available through its 2026 event pages, where the Paris dates are now listed. (elysee.fr) France’s next named esports milestone after the World Cup is EVO France in Nice in October 2026, according to the Élysée statement. (esportsworldcup.com) (esportsworldcup.com)