Paris, the world capital of eSports with the 2026 eSports World Cup!
The ESports World Cup, initially held in Saudi Arabia, is being relocated to Paris, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles - VIParis. With 25 tournaments across 24 disciplines and seven weeks of competition, the event will bring together, from 6 July to 23 August, 2,000 professional players representing 200 clubs from 100 countries. They will compete for a record-breaking USD 75 million prize pool, to be shared among the top-performing teams.
This major event for the eSports community once again confirms Paris’s expertise in hosting international competitions, following the League of Legends World Championship final in 2019, the BLAST.tv Paris Major for Counter Strike in 2023, and the Rocket League Major held from 22 to 24 May 2026.
Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of tourism and nightlife
“By hosting the ESports World Cup this summer, Paris once again demonstrates its ability to welcome major international events. This global competition reflects the dynamism of our capital and its ambition to continue shining through sporting events that are open to the world.”
A rapidly expanding global industry expected to reach USD 9 billion by 2032, eSports now rivals traditional sporting competitions in terms of audience and economic impact. For example, the BLAST.tv Paris Major generated USD 32.4 million in economic benefits for the capital in 2023.
© Esports Foundation
Corinne Menegaux, Managing Director of Paris je t’aime – Tourist Office:
“The 2026 eSports World Cup once again establishes Paris as the global capital of major sporting events. Thanks to a dedicated task force set up by the City of Paris, Paris je t’aime – the City’s tourism office, and local partners, the capital is positioning itself to become the European leader in eSports in the years to come. With millions of participants, the esports industry is essential to the city’s economic and tourist appeal.”
These events also offer exceptional international visibility for Paris, a festive, athletic, and inclusive city at the heart of a global community of 3 billion players, 48% of whom are women.
At the initiative of the City of Paris and Paris je t’aime – Convention Bureau, a dedicated taskforce for hosting major eSports events was created on 16 May 2023, in collaboration with key Paris based industry stakeholders. Its objective: to make Paris a leading destination in this field and establish it, within five years, as Europe’s benchmark for eSports. With millions of players in France and across Europe, this sector represents a key driver of the capital’s economic and tourism attractiveness.
More than just competitions
Beyond the tournament and festival at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, a series of events will enliven the city throughout the summer, featuring spectacular opening and closing ceremonies in major Parisian venues, as well as pop-up entertainment zones throughout the city.
