The Esports Foundation announced that the world's largest esports and gaming event, the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026, will be held in Paris, France.
After going through an evaluation process and considering the current regional conditions in the Middle East, the Esports Foundation accelerated its vision to rotate host cities for the 2026 EWC.
"Riyadh has helped make the Esports World Cup a global phenomenon. As host of the EWC, Riyadh has become recognized as one of the world's leading esports hubs," said Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert in a written statement quoted Friday.
"This year, we are excited to bring the EWC to Paris for its first tournament outside of Saudi Arabia."
The Esports Foundation has a long-term vision to develop its platform into an international tournament and competition venue through gradual collaboration with audiences, partners, and host organizers around the world.
This was done to provide clarity and stability for players, clubs, publishers, partners, and fans worldwide, while maintaining the scale, structure, and competitive integrity of the tournament.
