Esports World Cup 2026 Opens in Paris, Marking a New Global Chapter for Competitive Gaming

The Esports World Cup 2026 opens in Paris as the first international edition of the event designed to expand competitive gaming globally. The Esports Foundation is set to host the tournament from July 8 through August 23 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, bringing together more than 2,000 players and 200 esports Clubs from over 100 countries. Competition runs for seven weeks with 25 tournaments across 24 popular games and a record $75 million prize pool. The lead-in included 1.5 million competitors across 330 Road to EWC qualification events. During opening activities, City of Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire delivered remarks at a press conference at Hôtel de Ville. Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen return as Global Ambassadors. Organizers also cite 5,000 co-streamers (+42% year-over-year) and more than 100 broadcast partners.