Esports World Cup 2026 Is Moving to Paris — With a $75M Prize Pool

The Esports World Cup is leaving Riyadh behind. For the first time since the tournament launched, the 2026 edition is heading to Paris, France — and it's bringing the biggest prize pool in esports history with it.

Running from July 6 through August 23, the event will pack over 2,000 players from 200+ clubs into the French capital for nearly seven weeks of competition across 24 games. The total prize pool? Over $75 million. Yeah, that's not a typo.

Why Paris?

The Esports World Cup Foundation has hosted the event in Saudi Arabia since its debut, making it one of the most high-profile esports investments coming out of the Middle East. Moving to Paris marks a significant shift — the first time the tournament steps outside the region entirely.

Paris makes a lot of sense as a venue. The city still has serious esports energy left over from the 2024 Olympics, which featured esports as a demonstration sport for the first time. There's infrastructure, there's an audience, and crucially — it's way more accessible for European players and fans who previously had to book long-haul flights to Riyadh just to attend.

For teams and organizations based in Europe and North America, this relocation is a big win. Travel costs drop, time zones align better for Western broadcasts, and the general appeal of Paris as a destination makes in-person attendance a much easier sell.

What Games Are on the Lineup?

The full 24-game roster hasn't been officially announced yet, but based on previous EWC events you can expect the usual heavy hitters to be there:

Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Rocket League
Street Fighter 6
EA Sports FC

With 24 slots to fill, there's definitely room for some surprises. Newer titles that have built strong competitive scenes — like Marvel Rivals or a few others that've exploded in 2026 — could easily make the cut. Full lineup details are expected to drop closer to the July start date.

$75 Million Is a Massive Number

To put the prize pool in context: The International for Dota 2 — historically the richest single esports event — topped out at around $40 million in its peak years. The EWC more than doubles that across its combined events.

The money is split across all 24 titles, so no single game gets the full $75M. But even spread out, that means meaningful payouts for top finishers in every game on the card. Mid-tier titles in the lineup could still offer six-figure prize pools, which is a big deal for players in those scenes.

It also signals that the EWC model — a mega-festival format rather than a single-game world championship — is here to stay. The scale is only going up.

When Can You Watch?

Mark your calendars: July 6 through August 23, 2026. Broadcasts will be on Twitch and YouTube, with separate streams for each game. The scheduling format from previous years had different games running in different weeks, which actually made it easier to follow your specific titles without getting overwhelmed.

If you're thinking about going in person, Paris in July is genuinely great. Combine the world's biggest esports event with a summer trip to one of the best cities on the planet — there are worse ways to spend a vacation.

The Bottom Line

The Esports World Cup moving to Paris is a legitimizing moment for competitive gaming in Western Europe. A $75M+ prize pool, 2,000+ players, and 24 games across six weeks — this is shaping up to be the biggest esports event of the year by a wide margin. Start building your watch schedule now.