The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has officially announced a massive $75 million prize pool along with the full game lineup and event schedule for the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC 2026). The world’s biggest esports event will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will run from July 6 to August 23, 2026.
Esports World Cup 2026 Returns to Riyadh
According to the announcement made on January 21, 2026, the Esports World Cup 2026 will once again bring together the global esports ecosystem under one banner. Over 2,000 players and 200 esports clubs from more than 100 countries will compete across 25 tournaments featuring 24 competitive games over a seven-week period.
The event is positioned as the defining moment of the global esports calendar, offering life-changing rewards to players and clubs competing at the highest level.
Record-Breaking $75 Million Prize Pool
The $75 million prize pool further strengthens the Esports World Cup’s status as the largest and most prestigious multi-title esports event in the world.
“The life-changing prize pool exists to support the people at the heart of esports: the players and the Clubs that invest in them year after year,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
“EWC is different because of the Club Championship. One title crowns a champion. EWC crowns the ultimate cross-game Club Champion.”
EWC Club Championship Prize Details
The EWC Club Championship, the flagship competition of the event, will award $30 million to the top 24 clubs, which is an increase of $3 million compared to last year.
- The winning club will take home $7 million
- Higher prize allocations will be distributed across the remaining top positions
- The 2025 Club Championship was decided in the final week, with seven clubs still in contention
Individual Game Championships and Player Awards
The Individual Game Championships will collectively feature prize pools worth more than $39 million. The remaining prize money will be distributed through:
- Club and Player Awards
- MVP awards for each tournament
- The Jafonso Award, given to players or clubs that win a championship after qualifying through a Last Chance Qualifier
- Publisher-led qualification events held before the main event in Riyadh
Ecosystem Support and Qualification Pathways
EWCF will continue its ecosystem support initiatives, including:
- EWCF Club Partner Program, supporting 40 top global esports organizations
- Road to EWC qualification system, powered by publisher-led circuits, tournaments, and grassroots events
These programs aim to provide clear and fair qualification pathways for players and clubs worldwide.
Full Game Lineup for Esports World Cup 2026
The EWC 2026 game lineup includes 24 competitive titles, with Fortnite and Trackmania joining as new additions:
- Apex Legends
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Chess
- Counter-Strike 2
- Crossfire
- Dota 2
- EA Sports FC 26
- FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves
- Fortnite
- Free Fire
- Honor of Kings
- League of Legends
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Overwatch 2
- PUBG: Battlegrounds
- PUBG Mobile
- Rocket League
- Street Fighter 6
- Teamfight Tactics
- TEKKEN 8
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X
- Trackmania
- VALORANT
Seven Weeks of Multi-Arena Competition
EWC 2026 will be hosted across multiple arenas in Riyadh, with several tournaments running in parallel. This multi-venue setup is designed to improve fan experience, viewership, and scheduling across different esports titles.
Tickets Sale and Packages
Tickets for Esports World Cup 2026 will go on sale starting January 22, 2026, via esportsworldcup.com and international ticketing partners including Webook, India, Damai, and Tixr.