The Esports World Cup Foundation announced the full schedule and a historic prize pool of $75 million for the Esports World Cup 2026, to be held in Riyadh from July 6 to August 23. More than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries will compete in 25 tournaments across 24 matches.
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Ticket sales are active, including early passes, premium experiences, and special offers for early buyers. Options are available on the official event website and through international partners: Tixr for the United States and the European Union, webook.com for the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, Platinumlist for the Middle East and India, and Damai for China.
Prize Distribution and Esports World Cup Format
The Club Championship will award $30 million to the top 24 teams, with $7 million going to the winning club. The Individual Game Championships will exceed $39 million in total. The remaining fund will support Club and Player Awards, MVPs, the Jafonso Award, and qualifying events organized by publishers and partners before the final phase in Riyadh.
“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 club champion across games.”
Ticket Options and Experiences
The All-Access Weekly Pass offers unlimited event access, fast-track entry to all esports arenas, festival experiences, and a limited-edition gift bag. This option represents the best value for international visitors.
The Tournament Premium Pass guarantees fast access to all matches of the selected tournament, plus a limited-edition gift bag. The bags include a collector’s coin, a collectible card, an aluminum water bottle, a tote bag, a t-shirt, a fridge magnet, a merchandise voucher, and a collectible pin.
The Esports Embassy Experience provides high-end hospitality in a private luxury setting, with premium viewing lounges, curated food and beverages, and private meeting spaces.
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All-Inclusive Travel Packages
Saudia World Holidays has launched an all-in-one early package to enjoy the event in Riyadh. The offer includes round-trip flights, selected hotels near the venues, and a free Full Access Pass for the entire stay, with simple booking and no hidden costs.
Regular tournament passes and daily passes will be released in the next sales wave.
Growth and Global Reach
The record prize reflects the event’s evolution as a premier sports competition and the leading multi-title esports competition globally. In its third year, the cross-game format established by EWC unites the world’s top players, clubs, and matches through a shared calendar that sets the pace for the global esports season.
The 2025 edition reached 750 million viewers and generated 350 million hours watched, peaking at 7.98 million concurrent viewers during League of Legends matches. Across 28 platforms, 97 broadcast partners, and over 800 channels, coverage was provided in 35 languages. For seven weeks, Riyadh hosted 3 million visitors.
The Esports World Cup solidifies its position as the premier annual event in competitive esports, bringing together the global fan community under a unified calendar and format.
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