Esports World Cup 2026 moves to Paris
EWC VALORANT 2026 will feature 16 teams including the reigning champions from last year Team Heretics.
SAUDI ARABIA – The Esports World Cup Foundation has announced that the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) will be relocated to Paris, France, with the event set to become the first edition of the multi-title esports festival to be held outside Saudi Arabia.
According to the official announcement, EWC 2026 will continue to run from July to August. The event was originally expected to be hosted in Riyadh, which hosted the tournament in both 2024 and 2025.
The Esports Foundation said the decision followed "an extended evaluation process in light of the current regional situation" and accelerates its previously stated vision of bringing the Esports World Cup to major cities around the world over time.
"Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon," said Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert. "Riyadh is the home of EWC and one of the world's leading hubs for esports, powered by an incredible community of fans and long-term ambition for the future of the sport."
Reichert added that Paris will serve as the first international chapter in EWC history while emphasizing that Riyadh remains the home of the event.
According to the release, the 2026 edition is expected to feature more than 2,000 players representing over 200 clubs from more than 100 countries. Competitors will compete across 24 games and 25 tournaments for a combined prize pool exceeding $75 million.
Further details regarding the Paris venue, ticket sales, tournament schedules, and fan experiences will be announced in the coming weeks.
The relocation was also confirmed by multiple media outlets, which reported that the tournament will retain its previously announced format despite the change in host city. The VALORANT competition is scheduled to take place from July 2-12 (9-12 for the main portion of the event) and will feature a $2 million prize pool, 16 participating teams coming from all four regional VCT leagues.
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