VALORANT groups revealed for EWC26 as tournament moves to Paris with $2M prize pool

The bracket is set. VALORANT’s slot at the Esports World Cup 2026 now has a shape, with 16 teams drawn into four groups of four ahead of a tournament running July 2-12, 2026, in Paris, France.

The VALORANT competition carries a $2 million prize pool, part of a much larger $75 million total distributed across more than 24 titles at EWC26.

What’s different about EWC26

This edition of the Esports World Cup marks a meaningful first: the event is leaving Riyadh. Previous iterations were anchored in Saudi Arabia, but ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed organizers to relocate the entire festival to Paris.

The broader event runs July 6 through August 23, 2026, with an opening ceremony on July 8 featuring DJ Snake among others. The VALORANT portion, organized by ESL FACEIT Group and carrying an S-Tier designation, kicks off before the official festival opening, starting July 2.