Esports World Cup 2026 could relocate from Riyadh to France

Multiple insiders have raised the possibility that the Esports World Cup 2026 could be relocated from Riyadh to France. The tournament is officially scheduled for July 6–Aug. 23 in Riyadh and the Esports World Cup Foundation has not announced any change.

On May 8 the X account LPL Fanclub posted that EWC 2026 could be moved to France. That same day CS2 insider Vladislav “harumi” Radvilovich wrote on Telegram, “There’s a rumor that the EWC is being moved to France.” Neither post named a source or a French city.

The Esports World Cup Foundation has not issued a statement about a venue change. In March, after a drone attack on Riyadh, an EWC organizing official said, “EWC and ENC will proceed normally as scheduled,” and added that tournament preparations were continuing. The foundation has not updated that position since.

Riyadh was targeted several times during a wider conflict that began in late February 2026. Reporting indicates Iranian strikes hit multiple targets across Saudi Arabia and neighboring states. A ceasefire was declared in April.

The Esports World Cup has been hosted in Riyadh since its 2024 launch and is funded by the Esports Foundation, a nonprofit backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. A relocation would be the first time the tournament is held outside Saudi Arabia due to regional tensions.

The 2025 event involved about 2,000 players, 200 clubs, viewers in 140 countries and a combined prize pool of $75 million across 25 competitions in 24 games.

No city or venue in France has been named in any report. Insider posts identify only France; they do not provide a revised schedule or identify who would manage a relocation.

The EWCF continues to run Road to EWC qualifiers and in March confirmed 40 club partners for 2026, including India’s S8UL and GodLike Esports. Public-facing logistics and team preparations remain aligned with Riyadh as the host city.

Three separate sources have raised the possibility of a relocation in a short time frame. Until the Esports World Cup Foundation issues an official statement, the tournament is officially scheduled to take place in Riyadh.