The Esports World Cup now truly feels like an international event.
EWC 2026 officially opened in Paris, France, on July 8 marking the first international edition of the world’s largest esports and gaming event. Lasting until August 23 at ParisExpo Porte de Versailles, EWC 2026 will host 24 of the world’s most popular games. Each will hold a tournament, taking a share of a record-breaking $75 million prize pool.
With 3.6 billion gamers worldwide, gaming has become a global language, connecting people across every continent, culture and community. The Esports World Cup aims to give that community its defining annual competition. It’s a shared stage where the world’s best players, Clubs and games come together to shape the future of esports.
“Competitive gaming has always had great players, great games and unforgettable champions,” said Ralph Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation during the EWC 2026 Opening Press Conference at the Hotel de Ville. “The Esports World Cup brings them together in one defining annual stage. For seven weeks in Paris, every title crowns its own winner, but every result also contributes to a bigger race: the Club Championship. That is what makes EWC different. It rewards not only individual brilliance, but the depth, consistency and ambition of an entire Club.”
Paris Hosts the Pinnacle of Esports
“EWC was born in Saudi Arabia from a bold belief that esports is a defining platform for the next generation of sports and entertainment, deserving a global stage equal to the passion of its players, Clubs, publishers and fans,” said HRH Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Board member of the Esports Foundation.
“Today, EWC has grown into much more than a tournament, it’s a global platform that brings people together through gaming. Riyadh will always remain the home and foundation of the EWC, but our ambition has always extended beyond its borders. That ambition has brought us to Paris, marking an exciting new chapter for our community. I would like to thank President Emmanuel Macron and our friends in France for their support and partnership in making this moment possible. Together, we are demonstrating the unique power of esports to bring the world together.”
Paris gives EWC 2026 a global stage equal to its ambition. As a city recognized for sport, culture and major international events, Paris reflects the next chapter of the Esports World Cup: a competition built to travel across borders, unite the global esports ecosystem, and showcase competitive gaming as a modern global sport.
“Hosting the first international edition of the Esports World Cup in Paris is a source of immense pride for France,” said Marina Ferrari, French Minister of Sports, Youth, and Community Life. “I commend the Esports Foundation’s commitment and the quality of the collaboration established with French authorities throughout the preparation of this event. This partnership, built on trust, was crucial in enabling us to collectively rise to the challenge of organizing this first international edition of the Esports World Cup in Paris. Building on the legacy of major sporting events hosted in our country in recent years, France reaffirms its ability to host the world’s largest international competitions and showcase its expertise.”
Over 2,000 elite players in 200 leading esports Clubs from over 100 countries converge in Paris for EWC 2026. The event will be broadcasted and distributed through a growing global network of mainstream platforms. These include FOX Sports, TV5 Monde, Eurosport, HBO Max, and CBS Sports Network. For China, coverage will be available across major streaming platforms including Kuaishou, Bilibili, Huya, Douyu and Douyin. Coverage will also be available in more than 40 languages, with up to 5,000 official co-streamers amplifying the EWC through the industry-leading Creator Program.
For more information and full tournament schedule, you can visit their official website and X for upcoming announcements.
Images courtesy of the Esports World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
EWC 2026 is the first international edition of the Esports World Cup, running from July 8 to August 23, 2026, at ParisExpo Porte de Versailles. The event hosts 24 tournaments across popular esports titles, with Clubs and players competing for a share of a $75 million prize pool.
EWC 2026 is being held in Paris, France, marking the tournament’s first edition outside its founding home of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Esports Foundation confirmed Riyadh remains the permanent base of EWC, with Paris hosting this expanded international chapter of the competition.
The EWC 2026 prize pool totals $75 million, described by organizers as a record for the event. Prize money is distributed across 24 individual game tournaments, with results also contributing to a separate, cumulative Club Championship standings race.
Over 2,000 elite players representing 200 esports Clubs from more than 100 countries are competing in EWC 2026. Each Club’s performance across the 24 game tournaments counts toward the Club Championship, which rewards depth and consistency across an entire roster, not just individual results.
EWC 2026 is broadcast across FOX Sports, TV5 Monde, Eurosport, HBO Max, and CBS Sports Network, with Kuaishou, Bilibili, Huya, Douyu, and Douyin carrying coverage in China. The event streams in more than 40 languages, supported by up to 5,000 official co-streamers through EWC’s Creator Program.
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