sports
Esports World Cup 2026 Relocates to Paris After Regional Concerns
The Esports World Cup 2026 will run in Paris from July 6 to August 23 after organizers moved the event from Riyadh. The Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will host the seven-week tournament and Fan Fest.
Jul 9, 5:17 AM·1m read3 sources
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The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris from July 6 to August 23 after organizers shifted the event from its original Riyadh location. The decision followed concerns over regional instability and international travel. The tournament will occupy France’s largest exhibition space, the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
The venue previously hosted the TFT Paris Open 2025 and other major sporting events.
Organizers will also run a seven-week Fan Fest at the same site. Visitors can meet players and clubs, preview titles, and interact with creators. Preparing the site on short notice required coordination across teams, publishers, clubs, partners, and local stakeholders.
2025 the Riyadh event sold 285,000 tickets and drew 750 million viewers across 28 platforms in 140 countries. The 2026 edition will feature 24 tournaments across 25 game titles.
“Cancelling the event was never something we wanted to do. Organizers say the move supports a longer-term plan to rotate the event among international host cities.”
