Esports World Cup to Move From Saudi Arabia to France in 2026 (Gaming News Roundup)
The 2026 Esports World Cup will be held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time in the event’s history, taking place in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23. The Esports Foundation made the announcement, stating that “following an extended evaluation process, and in light of the current regional situation, the Esports Foundation decided to accelerate that international rotation ambition for the 2026 edition, offering clarity and stability for players, Clubs, publishers, partners, and fans worldwide, while preserving the tournament’s scale, structure and competitive integrity. ” “Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation.
“Riyadh is the home of EWC and one of the world’s leading hubs for esports, powered by an incredible community of fans and long-term ambition for the future of the sport. This year, we’re excited to bring EWC to Paris for its first edition outside Saudi Arabia. Paris has hosted some of the world’s biggest sporting events and is one of the great global capitals of sport, culture and entertainment.
Together with the passion of French fans and the strong support we’ve received locally, we’re excited to bring the global esports community there for the next chapter of EWC. Paris now becomes the first international chapter in EWC history. ” The 2026 edition of the EWC will welcome over 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, who will compete in 24 games across 25 tournaments for a share of the record-breaking $75 million+ prize pool.
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The new additions allow eligible monetizing streamers to “earn more from the collective energy of your community,” per the company. With creator badge drops, you can not only design your own for big events but now “reward viewers who show up for your biggest moments, whether that’s an all-night subathon or a milestone months in the making,” per the company. “During testing, participants who set up custom badges for their events saw up to 50% more gift sub revenue on their first day of the event compared to their monthly average.