Aya Nakamura, DJ Snake, Theodora to open Esports World Cup Paris

The Esports Foundation announced that Aya Nakamura, DJ Snake and Theodora will headline the Esports World Cup 2026 opening ceremony at La Seine Musicale in Paris on July 8, 2026. The live performance will mark the start of a seven-week festival that runs through August 23, 2026.

The Paris edition is the first EWC to be held outside Riyadh since the tournament began. Organisers say the event combines competitive gaming with large-scale live entertainment and will feature more than 2,000 players and 200 professional clubs competing across 25 tournaments in 24 game titles. The overall prize pool for the festival exceeds $75 million.

The Opening Ceremony at La Seine Musicale is billed as the official launch of the multi-game festival. Organisers selected artists who work across Afrobeats, electronic production and online creator culture to attract audiences that follow streaming platforms and creator-led content.

Mike McCabe, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer at the Esports Foundation, said, “The Opening Ceremony is our chance to welcome the world to the Esports World Cup.” He explained the lineup was chosen to celebrate Paris and to reflect artists who have shaped music and culture in France.

The Paris ceremony follows the EWC’s inaugural launch in Riyadh, which included performances from Post Malone, Alesso, Duckwrth, Tina Guo, SEVENTEEN’s DINO and Telle Smith. The foundation also announced the EWC docuseries “Level Up” will return for a second season on a global streaming service.