One of the world’s largest esports events, the Esports World Cup (EWC) is an annual international esports tournament series organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation, a nonprofit group. The EWC is held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, usually between July and August.
The event ranks among the world’s most significant esports events by both total prize pool and the number of game titles represented.
According to the event’s organizers, the 2025 edition brought together more than 2,500 participants (players and team personnel) from 100 countries. Across 25 tournaments, competitors contested 871 matches, competing for a total prize fund exceeding US$70 million — the largest prize pool in esports history.
The Esports World Cup will return to Riyadh from July 6 to August 23, 2026, for its third edition.
From Arenas to City Landmarks: A City-Wide Impact During the EWC
The Esports World Cup’s influence extended far beyond the arenas. From the moment fans land in Saudi Arabia, the experience begins.
Officials and ticket holders received a special commemorative passport stamp during the last edition upon arrival at the International Airport in Riyadh.
Terminals in Riyadh and Jeddah airports were decorated with EWC branding and interactive gaming stations, creating an exciting pre-event atmosphere.
Local landmarks, including the Kingdom Tower and the Boulevard City arch, were illuminated in 2025 with Esports World Cup visuals as well.
The event took place across four esports arenas and eight festival venues within Boulevard Riyadh City, covering an area approximately equivalent to nine football pitches.
Over 300,000 international tourists joined local fans in 2025
The competition and festival attracted 3 million visitors to the event area in 2025, including approximately 300,000 international tourists from 66 countries, according to the organizers. EWC also asserted that global broadcasts reached 750 million people worldwide.