Esports World Cup 2026 Moves to Paris Expo After Middle East Unrest — $75M Prize Pool Intact

PR Newswire · 1w ago

The 2026 Esports World Cup has been officially relocated from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in France, following geopolitical instability in the region, with the Esports Foundation confirming the move on May 20. The mega-event runs July 6 through August 23 across 25 competitions in 24 different esports titles, with a combined prize pool exceeding $75 million USD still on the table. Club-program shakeups see FaZe Clan left out while Karmine Corp secured a late replacement spot, and NRG Esports returns after missing the 2025 edition.