Esports World Cup 2026 moved from Riyadh to Paris
The world’s largest video game tournament will be held in Paris this summer instead of Saudi Arabia, partly due to disruptions caused by the Middle East war, organizers said.
The 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup — to be held from July 6 to August 23 — will see players compete in 24 titles for a prize pool exceeding $75 million.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund supports the event, which was created in 2024.
The first two annual editions were held in the Gulf state, which has ambitions to lead the global esports industry, and Riyadh had been set to host again this year.
