The Esports World Cup Paris will begin this week as one of the world’s biggest gaming tournaments moves outside Saudi Arabia for the first time. The event will run in the French capital from July 6 to August 23, marking a major step in the competition’s plan to become a global esports platform.
After two successful editions in Riyadh, organizers have decided to relocate the 2026 tournament to Paris. The move comes in response to the current regional situation and supports the long-term goal of hosting the event in different international cities.
The Esports World Cup was launched in 2024 and quickly became one of the largest tournaments in competitive gaming. Organizers say Riyadh played a key role in building the event, but they have always planned to expand beyond Saudi Arabia.
Mike McCabe, deputy chief executive and chief operating officer of the Esports Foundation, said fans should view the Paris event as both a response to current circumstances and part of the tournament’s future growth strategy.
According to McCabe, Riyadh remains an important part of the competition’s long-term plans. He said Saudi Arabia will continue to serve as the home of the Esports Foundation while the tournament reaches new audiences around the world.
The 2026 competition is expected to welcome more than 2,000 professional players representing over 200 clubs from more than 100 countries. Competitors will take part in 25 tournaments across 24 different video games.
The total prize pool will exceed $75 million, making it one of the richest events in esports history. Organizers hope the large prize fund will continue attracting many of the world’s best players and teams.
Paris was selected after organizers reviewed several possible host cities. They said the French capital offers excellent transport connections, modern event venues, and one of Europe’s strongest gaming communities.
France has become one of Europe’s leading esports markets. The country regularly hosts major gaming competitions and has a large audience of esports fans. Organizers believe the move will also make the tournament easier to attend for players, teams, sponsors, broadcasters, and fans across Europe.
Moving an event of this size presents major logistical challenges. The Esports World Cup is more than a single tournament. It includes fan festivals, live entertainment, creator events, international broadcasts, business meetings, and community activities spread across several weeks.
Organizers have coordinated travel, visa arrangements, accommodation, venue operations, broadcasting systems, and event schedules to support thousands of participants arriving from around the world.
McCabe said the biggest challenge has been maintaining a smooth experience for everyone involved while relocating such a large international event.
The move to Paris will also include part of the Esports Foundation’s business program. The New Global Sport Conference will host a special invitation-only summit during the tournament. It will be the conference’s first international edition outside Saudi Arabia.
Later this year, the main conference will return to Riyadh from October 30 to November 1. The event will focus on topics including artificial intelligence, investment, business models, digital ownership, and changing fan behavior in gaming and sports.
Immediately after the conference, Riyadh will host the Esports Nations Cup beginning on November 2. Organizers say this schedule shows that Saudi Arabia will remain central to the foundation’s annual esports calendar.
The Esports World Cup has grown rapidly since its launch. The first tournament offered a prize pool of $62.5 million, which increased to $71 million in 2025. Organizers reported that last year’s event attracted more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated over 350 million hours of online viewing across dozens of broadcast partners and hundreds of streaming channels.
Support from French authorities and local partners has helped organizers prepare the event within a short period. McCabe said publishers, esports clubs, sponsors, and commercial partners have also supported the relocation despite the operational challenges involved.
The Esports World Cup Paris represents an important test for the competition’s future. Organizers plan to return the tournament to Riyadh in 2027 while continuing to explore opportunities to host future editions in other international cities. If the Paris event succeeds, it could establish a new model for expanding one of the world’s fastest-growing esports competitions while keeping Saudi Arabia as its long-term home.
