Esports World Cup 2026 Moves to Paris, Riyadh Hosts More

Saudi Arabia is continuing its investment drive in gaming and esports, keeping Riyadh at the center of a growing calendar of international events even as the Esports World Cup 2026 moves abroad. The 2026 edition of the tournament has been relocated to Paris and will run from 6 July to 23 August 2026, with the move attributed to security and regional stability considerations.

Earlier editions of the Esports World Cup were staged in Riyadh, helping establish the city as an early hub for the competition. Despite the 2026 relocation, the Kingdom continues to fund and promote the tournament as a flagship project under its gaming and esports investment strategy and rؤية السعودية 2030.

Riyadh will host a new nation-based competition later in the year. The Esports Nations Cup 2026 is set to debut in the capital in November 2026, featuring national teams representing their countries. The event is planned as a biennial competition that will rotate to new host cities after the inaugural Riyadh edition.

A national team representation framework has been launched for the tournament, with applications for official National Team Partners now open through the dedicated Esports Nations Cup online platform. The multi-stage evaluation covers governance, operational capability, ecosystem role, community reach, and alignment with game partner requirements. An accompanying Development Fund has been established with a stated commitment of at least USD 20 million annually from 2026 to support the long-term growth of nation-based esports.

More events for Riyadh

The New Global Sport Conference 2026 returns to Riyadh from 30 October to 1 November 2026 as a gaming and esports leadership gathering ahead of the Nations Cup, and is also organizing an invitation-only summit in Paris during the Esports World Cup. The Global Games Show 2026 is planned in Riyadh on 29–30 June 2026, bringing together developers, investors, publishers, and technology companies.

The activity reflects the Kingdom's National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to make Saudi Arabia a global hub for esports events by 2030 through hosting major tournaments, developing local talent, and expanding participation in international esports bodies.

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