The Esports World Cup 2026 won't take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The country has been the tournament's home since conception, but now, it's moving to Europe.

Announced by President Emmanuel Macron himself, the Esports World Cup 2026 is set to take place in Paris, France. The finalized dates of the event are July 6 to August 23, 2026.

This relocation is somewhat sudden after the event took place in Riyadh for its first two editions. In fact, the 2026 edition was also planned for Riyadh.

CEO of the Esports Foundation, Ralf Reichert, took to LinkedIn to further explain the situation on May 21, 2026.

"While the Esports World Cup was originally planned for Riyadh, the current regional situation required us to relocate the 2026 edition to provide clarity and stability for players, Clubs, partners and fans." Reichert wrote in an extensive post.

In his statement, the CEO also explained that French President Emmanuel Macron readily welcomed them to make the announcement.

This would mark the first time that the Esports World Cup is moving to an international location.

After the Esports World Cup 2026, CEO Ralf Reichert Expects Riyadh's Comeback

Though the Esports World Cup 2026 has been finalized for Paris, this may not be its permanent location. In fact, Ralf Reichert did not discuss the idea of locations shifting globally every year.

The CEO likely expects things to return to normal and for the tournament to go back to Riyadh in 2027.

Therefore, the tournament's arrival in Paris appears to be an unplanned, yet concrete decision for just this year. According to Reichert, the venue in France will allow them to fully manifest the tournament's massive scale without compromise.

In his LinkedIn post, the CEO praised French President Emmanuel Macron, thanking him for his hospitality. He also welcomed fans and teams to participate in the tournament.

Saudi Arabia-based Team Falcons has managed to win the Club Championship prize, the biggest at the Esports World Cup, twice already. However, this was when the tournament was in Riyadh.

Now that it's shifting to Europe, CEO Ralf Reichert called on teams such as Vitality and Gentle Mates to clinch the opportunity. The question is whether they'll be able to win it all on home ground or not in 2026.

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Written by

Prit Chauhan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote