According to the Chinese recap video of the Esports World Cup published on Weibo, the 2026 edition of the global event is expected to take place from July 6 to August 23 — one day longer than the 2025 event. In addition to the EWC, the Saudi foundation behind the competition has also announced the launch of the Esports Nations Cup in November 2026. Saudi Arabia will therefore, as anticipated, host two major international esports events next year.

After two consecutive victories, Team Falcons will have the chance to defend their crown in the 2026 EWC. The tournament is once again set to span over seven weeks, featuring more than ten different titles and welcoming over a hundred organizations from across the globe. With tens of millions of dollars in prize pools on the line, the stakes will be massive. Out of the $70 million offered this year, Team Falcons — the ultimate champions — took home nearly $7 million.

A new project for 2026

Alongside the Esports World Cup, Riyadh is also preparing to host a brand-new competition in 2026, the ENC, where national teams will face off against one another, similar to the Olympics or major international sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup. While it may appear less prestigious at first and already raises plenty of questions and controversy, this event marks the first of its kind on such a scale, focusing on nation-versus-nation matchups.

Many of the games featured in 2025 will also be present in 2026, such as League of Legends and VALORANT, which made their debut this year. Of the 25 competitions in the last edition, 21 are already confirmed to return.

Confirmed games for 2026: