The Esports World Cup is leaving Saudi Arabia. The 2026 edition will take place in Paris from July 6 to August 23, bringing with it a record $75 million prize pool, the largest in esports history.
That prize pool figure represents a meaningful escalation. The 2025 edition featured $71.5 million, which itself was a jump from $62.5 million in 2024. In two years, the total purse has grown by 20%.
What the move to Paris means
The relocation from Riyadh to the French capital comes amid regional instability in the Middle East. The tournament will feature 25 competitions across 24 game titles, with over 2,000 players representing more than 200 clubs from over 100 countries. The lineup includes heavy hitters like VALORANT, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, PUBG, and Warzone. New additions this year include Fortnite, Trackmania, and, somewhat unexpectedly, Chess.
The opening ceremony is set for July 8 at La Seine Musicale, with DJ Snake performing.
