The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has confirmed a record-breaking $75 million prize pool for the Esports World Cup 2026, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to position Riyadh as the global capital of competitive gaming.
The seven-week tournament will run from July 6 to August 23 in Riyadh and feature 25 tournaments across 24 game titles. More than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries are expected to compete, making it one of the largest esports gatherings ever staged.
A central pillar of the event is the Club Championship, which will see its prize pool rise to $30 million in 2026, up $3 million year-on-year. The winning Club will take home $7 million, with increased payouts distributed across the remaining top 24 finishers.
Beyond the Club Championship, individual game tournaments will collectively award more than $39 million in prize money. Additional funds will be distributed through Club and Player Awards, including MVP honours for each tournament and the Jafonso Award for players advancing from Last Chance Qualifiers.
Prize money will also be tied to qualifying events hosted by partner publishers and organisers in the lead-up to the main event in Riyadh, creating a global “Road to Riyadh” competitive circuit.
EWC 2026 will feature 24 competitive titles, including major mobile esports such as Free Fire, Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and PUBG Mobile. Tickets for the event will go on sale on January 22, 2026, via the official Esports World Cup website.
“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 cross-game Club Champion.”
