The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially kicked off at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, where the world’s premier event in competitive gaming runs through August 23, 2026. Gathered this Wednesday, July 8, 2026, for a press conference, the organizers issued an early briefing that sets the tone: 100,000 tickets already sold, announced Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation.
Speaking to the press, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, a board member of the Esports Foundation, highlighted the scale of the event: 25 tournaments across 24 games, thousands of players and hundreds of clubs expected over several weeks in the capital, with a prize pool of $25 million announced at the podium for the winner.
This is also a major milestone: the Esports World Cup has never before been held outside Saudi Arabia since its inception. Sports Minister Marina Ferrari sees it as a strong signal for the French industry: "Esports, for its part, is already writing part of our future. By choosing Paris and France, the Esports Foundation gives us the opportunity to showcase our expertise," she explains.
Paris wasn’t chosen by chance: "Paris has hosted some of the world’s most iconic sporting events and stands among the global capitals of sport, culture, and entertainment," explains Ralf Reichert. He adds: "With the fervor of French fans and the strong local support we’re receiving, we’re thrilled to bring the global esports community together there for this new chapter of the EWC."
The festive kick-off is set for this Wednesday, July 8, with an opening ceremony at La Seine Musicale, in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine, 92), headlined by DJ Snake, Aya Nakamura and Theodora. A fitting start to seven weeks of competition under the best possible auspices.
The event was initially set to take place in Riyadh, as in previous years. But the Middle East tensions reshaped the landscape in just a few weeks, with the organizers flagging serious doubts about players’ ability to reach the venue on time. Paris has taken on the organization after direct talks between Emmanuel Macron and Mohammed bin Salman.
Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is a familiar venue for the community, having hosted Paris Games Week since 2010. Its modular spaces, already tested during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, provide the technical setup needed for a competition of this scale over seven consecutive weeks.
More than 2,000 players from over 200 clubs and 100 countries are competing across 25 tournaments spanning all major genres of competitive gaming: FPS, MOBAs, fighting games, battle royale, sports titles, racing games, and even chess. Here is the full schedule:
Ticketing remains open on the official EWC site, but delaying could be costly given the brisk sales pace. The Regular Tournament Pass grants access to every tournament day for a given title (including the group stage), while the Premium Tournament Pass offers fast-track entry, Gold-zone seating for select titles, and a limited-edition swag bag.
For the finals of VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2, seats are organized into Gold, Silver and Bronze zones. A Daily Regular Tournament Pass also grants access to a single day of competition, a solid entry point for newcomers wanting to soak up the arena atmosphere.
France is no stranger to this level of competition. In recent years, Paris has hosted European finals of League of Legends, the Fortnite World Championships, the World Finals of Rocket League and Valorant, or the Six Invitational in early 2026. With clubs like Vitality, Gentle Mates or Karmine Corp regularly shining on the international stage, the French community is among the most engaged in the world.
In terms of economic impact, the previous edition is said to have generated around $600 million in Saudi Arabia; in Paris, direct spillovers are estimated at 300 to 400 million euros. That helps explain the palpable enthusiasm shown by French officials this Wednesday.
Who is this for? Fans of League of Legends, Valorant, Counter-Strike, Tekken and all the competitive titles mentioned, but also the curious and families wanting to discover the world of live esports. From roughly 12–13 years old, the arena atmosphere is truly different when experienced in person than through a screen.
To extend the experience, find all our ideas for outings in notre guide gaming et esport à Paris and our top picks around Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
Also on Sortiraparis: our gaming and esports guide to Paris and Paris Games Week.
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Dates and Opening Time
From July 6, 2026 to August 23, 2026
Location
Paris Expo - Porte de Versailles
1 Place de la Porte de Versailles
75015 Paris 15
Route planner
Accessibility info
