The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has raised the stakes for competitive gaming with the announcement of a record $75 million prize pool for the Esports World Cup 2026. Scheduled to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 6 to August 23, 2026, the seven-week event will bring together more than 2,000 elite players and over 200 esports Clubs from upwards of 100 countries, competing across 25 tournaments and 24 game titles.

According to a press release issued by the Esports World Cup Foundation, the expanded prize pool underlines the tournament’s growing status as a cornerstone of the global esports calendar. Designed as a multi-title, cross-game spectacle, the Esports World Cup has steadily evolved into a premier international sporting property that rewards sustained excellence, not just individual tournament wins, but performance across an entire competitive season.

A key highlight of the 2026 edition remains the EWC Club Championship, the event’s signature cross-game format. The championship will award $30 million to the top 24 Clubs, reflecting a year-on-year increase of $3 million. The eventual winning Club will receive $7 million, with improved prize distributions across the remaining top finishers. In the 2025 edition, the Club Championship went down to the final week, with seven Clubs still in contention, illustrating the intensity and depth that the format brings to the competition.

Beyond the Club Championship, the Individual Game Championships will collectively offer more than $39 million in prize money. Additional awards will be distributed through Club and Player recognitions, including MVP honours for each tournament and the Jafonso Award, which celebrates players or Clubs that secure a Game Championship after progressing through a Last Chance Qualifier. Prize money will also flow through qualifying tournaments organised by partnered publishers and event organisers in the lead-up to the main event in Riyadh.

EWCF will continue its ecosystem-focused initiatives in 2026, including the Club Partner Program and the Road to EWC qualification pathway. The Club Partner Program will once again support 40 leading esports organisations worldwide, while publisher-led circuits, regional tournaments, and grassroots competitions will serve as structured routes for players and Clubs aiming to qualify for the World Cup.

The Esports World Cup 2026 will feature competitions across 24 titles, blending established global esports franchises with new additions. Fortnite and Trackmania join the lineup this year, alongside games such as Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, VALORANT, PUBG Mobile, EA Sports FC 26, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Free Fire, Overwatch 2, TEKKEN 8, Street Fighter 6, and Chess, among others. Matches will be staged across multiple arenas, with a coordinated schedule allowing several championships to run simultaneously, enhancing both on-ground engagement and global viewership.

Tickets for EWC 2026 will go on sale from January 22, 2026, through esportsworldcup.com and international ticketing partners, including Webook in India, Damai, and Tixr. Early Bird offerings will include Weekly Access Passes, Premium Tournament Passes, and Hospitality Packages for the Esports Embassy, the event’s premium on-site experience.

The announcement builds on the momentum generated by Esports World Cup 2025, which drew 750 million viewers worldwide, clocked 350 million hours watched, and recorded a peak concurrent viewership of 7.98 million during the League of Legends tournament. With its expanded prize pool and broadened competitive scope, EWC 2026 is now poised to further elevate esports on the global stage.