RIYADH: The Esports Foundation announced on Wednesday that the 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup will be held in Paris, the first time the event will take place outside Riyadh.
The tournament will run from July 6 to Aug. 23 and is expected to bring together more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from more than 100 countries.
The Esports Foundation said the move reflects a long-term strategy to expand the tournament internationally through rotating host cities while maintaining Riyadh as the home of the competition.
The decision to stage the 2026 event in Paris followed what organizers described as an extended evaluation process and came “in light of the current regional situation.”
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, said: “Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon,” adding: “Riyadh is the home of EWC and one of the world’s leading hubs for esports.”
