EWC 2026 Confirms $75 Million Prize Pool, Full Game Lineup, Event Schedule
EWC 2026 Confirms $75 Million Prize Pool, Full Game Lineup, Event Schedule
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced a $75 million total prize pool for the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), alongside the full list of competitive titles and the event schedule. The tournament will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 6 to August 23, 2026, marking its third year as a multi-title global esports competition.
More than 2,000 players and 200 esports organizations from over 100 countries are expected to compete across 25 tournaments spanning 24 games, as teams vie for both individual game titles and the overall Club Championship.
Club Championship and Prize Pool Breakdown
The EWC Club Championship, the event’s cross-title competition, will distribute $30 million among the top 24 finishing organizations, an increase of $3 million from the previous year. The top-ranked Club will receive $7 million, with the remaining prize money allocated across other placements.
Individual Game Championships will collectively account for over $39 million in prize pools. Additional payouts will be distributed through Club and Player Awards, including tournament MVPs and the Jafonso Award, which recognizes players or teams that win a championship after qualifying through Last Chance Qualifiers.
Qualification and Ecosystem Support
EWCF confirmed that ecosystem initiatives will continue in 2026, including the EWCF Club Partner Program, which will support 40 partnered esports organizations, and the Road to EWC qualification system. Publisher-led leagues, third-party tournaments, and grassroots events will serve as primary qualification pathways leading into the main event in Riyadh.
Full Esports World Cup 2026 Game Lineup
The EWC 2026 will feature 24 competitive titles, including new additions Fortnite and Trackmania. The full lineup includes:
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, and VALORANT.
Event Schedule and Tickets
Competitions will run across seven weeks, with multiple championships held in parallel across several venues in Riyadh. According to EWCF, the format is designed to improve scheduling flexibility and viewing experience for fans following multiple titles.
Tickets for EWC 2026 will go on sale starting January 22, 2026, with options including Weekly Access Passes, Premium Tournament Passes, and Hospitality Packages for the Esports Embassy. Tickets will be available through official international partners and the event’s ticketing platforms.
Looking Back at EWC 2025
The announcement follows the Esports World Cup 2025, which recorded 750 million viewers worldwide, 350 million hours watched, and a peak concurrent viewership of 7.98 million during the League of Legends tournament. The 2025 edition also welcomed over 3 million on-site visitors in Riyadh across its seven-week run.
Further details on tournament formats and schedules for individual titles are expected to be released closer to the event.