The Esports Foundation officially announced on May 27 (local time) that it will host the 'Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026' in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23. With a total prize pool of $75 million—the largest in esports history—the event will feature over 2000 athletes representing more than 100 countries and 200 clubs, competing across 25 titles at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

Official ticket sales begin on the morning of May 29 at (esportsworldcup.com/tickets). A variety of passes, including early-bird options, will be available.

■ 7 Weeks, 25 Titles, Record-Breaking Prize Pool

EWC 2026 covers all major competitive gaming genres, including FPS, strategy games, sports titles, MOBA, battle royale, fighting games, racing, and chess. The lineup includes global blockbusters such as 'Valorant,' 'League of Legends,' 'CS2,' 'Dota 2,' 'Rocket League,' 'Tekken 8,' 'Street Fighter 6,' 'Overwatch 2,' 'Fortnite,' and 'PUBG Mobile.'

The tournament follows a cross-game Club Championship format, where results across multiple titles are aggregated to determine the final 'Esports World Cup Club Champion.'

The venue, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, is a historic site that has hosted Paris Games Week since 2010. It served as one of the largest venues during the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics and also hosted the 2025 TFT Open.

■ Ticket Types and Packages

Tickets are divided into four main categories. The 'Regular Tournament Pass' provides access to all matches for a specific game, from group stages to the Championship Weekend, and includes a silver seat. The 'Premium Tournament Pass' offers fast-track entry, gold seating, and a limited-edition merchandise bag (collector's coin, tote bag, and T-shirt). The 'Daily Regular Tournament Pass' is a short-term ticket for viewing a single day of matches for a specific game. For the finals of 'Valorant,' 'League of Legends,' 'Rocket League,' and 'CS2,' separate 'Final Day Seating Zone' tickets will be sold, categorized into gold, silver, and bronze tiers.

The Esports Foundation stated, "Paris is the ideal city to serve as a global stage for esports and gaming culture."