Qiddiya City highlights its future esports destination at EWC 2026 in Paris.
Qiddiya City Grid hosts major titlesE WC 2026 debuts outside Riyadh73,000-seat esports district plannedGlobal gaming hub taking shape
Qiddiya City will bring its vision for the future of esports and gaming to the Esports World Cup 2026 through an expanded partnership between the Esports Foundation and Qiddiya Investment Company.
First edition of the Esports World Cup hosted outside Riyadh
From 6 July to 23 August, EWC 2026 will take place at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, bringing together more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries. The event marks the first edition of the Esports World Cup hosted outside Riyadh, which remains the competition’s long-term home.
As a founding partner of the Esports World Cup, Qiddiya City will continue to play a prominent role in the event. One of the tournament’s four competition stages will be named the Qiddiya City Grid, a venue designed for more than 1,000 spectators and scheduled to host competitions in Apex Legends, Free Fire, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG MOBILE, and Fortnite.
Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer of the Esports Foundation, said Riyadh established EWC as a global platform for esports, while the Paris edition offers fans a glimpse of the competition’s long-term future and a shared ambition to create a unifying destination for players, Clubs, publishers, partners, and fans.
Muhammad Bassrawi, Chief Marketing & Destination Officer at Qiddiya Investment Company, said Qiddiya City aims to become the world’s leading destination for gaming and esports fans, reflecting a long-term commitment to shaping the future of play and delivering world-class experiences.
The partnership also supports Qiddiya City’s new brand campaign, which celebrates the power of play and the connections it creates across entertainment, sports, culture, and gaming.
73,000-seat esports district planned
Qiddiya City is being developed as a future home of the Esports World Cup. The planned esports district will span more than 183,100 square meters and feature four purpose-built arenas with a combined capacity of 73,000 seats, facilities for up to 25 esports Clubs, and regional headquarters for more than 30 gaming companies, creating a year-round destination for the global gaming community.
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