The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 will be held in Paris, France, moving away from its previous host city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Esports Foundation (EF), which organizes the event, announced on its official social media channels on the 21st that Paris has been confirmed as the host city for EWC 2026. The tournament will run for approximately seven weeks, from July 6 to August 23.

This change in venue is interpreted as a proactive measure in light of the recent instability in the Middle East.

Kicking off a new chapter in Paris, EWC 2026 will feature a record-breaking total prize pool of over $75 million (approximately ₩102 billion). More than 200 clubs and over 2000 players from more than 100 countries are expected to participate in the competition.

The tournament will consist of 24 titles across 25 events. This year, the racing game 'Trackmania' has been introduced as a new title, and 'Fortnite' returns with its 'Reload' mode. Conversely, 'StarCraft II' and ' Rennsport' have been excluded from this year's lineup. The 'League of Legends' tournament, which has drawn significant attention from esports fans, will take place from July 15 to 19, with 16 elite teams from around the world competing for the $75 million prize pool.

The EF plans to release further details regarding specific venues in Paris and ticket sales schedules.