The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has officially begun in Paris, France, with an opening ceremony that blended live music, esports, and French culture to launch the first international edition of the global tournament.
Held at La Seine Musicale, the event welcomed players, esports organizations, creators, publishers, and fans from more than 100 countries ahead of seven weeks of competition across multiple game titles.
French music stars headline EWC 2026 opening ceremony
The ceremony featured performances from some of France’s biggest artists, including Aya Nakamura, DJ Snake, Theodora, and Mosimann.
The production combined live performances with orchestral music, augmented reality, cinematic visuals, choreography, and large-scale stage effects, introducing Paris as the new host city for the tournament.
An esports-focused pre-show hosted by creator Doigby preceded the main ceremony before DJ Snake capped the global broadcast with a live performance. Mosimann then closed the evening with an extended set for the audience in Paris.
Club Championship trophy revealed
One of the night’s highlights was the unveiling of the Esports World Cup Club Championship trophy.
Representatives from participating esports clubs took the stage as the trophy was presented, officially signaling the start of the season-long race for the Club Championship—a format unique to the EWC that rewards organizations competing across multiple game titles rather than a single title.
The ceremony also introduced the official EWC 2026 orchestral anthem, produced in collaboration with 2WEI Music and Hollywood Scoring, which will accompany broadcasts and tournament moments throughout the event.
Competition now shifts to the esports stage
With the opening festivities complete, attention now turns to the competition itself.
More than 2,000 players representing 200 esports clubs will compete over the next seven weeks in 25 tournaments across 24 game titles, with clubs battling not only for individual championships but also for points toward the overall Club Championship standings.
As the first international edition of the EWC, Paris serves as the backdrop for what organizers hope will further establish the annual event as one of the premier competitions on the global esports calendar.
