Saudi Arabia just turned up the esports dial to “mega-event” with the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 promising a staggering USD 75 million prize pool across 25 tournaments and 24 games over seven weeks in Riyadh this summer.
The global gaming showdown set for 6 July – 23 August 2026 will feature more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from 100+ countries, competing to crown the ultimate Club Champion. More than pixels and prizes, this solidifies that esports is an international spectator sport with real-world boots on the ground, and the Kingdom will continue to roll out the welcome mats.
The record-breaking prize pool reflects the evolution of the EWC as a premier sporting event and the anchor multi-title competition within the global esports ecosystem. Delivered at scale for a third year through an established, cross-game format, the EWC brings together the world’s best players, Clubs, games and a global community of fans through a shared calendar that sets the rhythm of the global esports season.
From console to culture
Saudi’s esports push is strategic economics. Under its National Gaming and Esports Strategy, the Kingdom aims to grow esports into a global hub by 2030, create 39,000 jobs, and contribute an eye-watering $13.3 billion to GDP.
Government ministers have even dubbed esports the country’s “new oil”, recognising gaming and digital entertainment as core drivers of future growth, youth engagement and tourism diversification.
Not a nation to be shy about spawning world-class infrastructure, international partnerships, and domestic talent programmes, Saudi’s gaming and esports strategy is designed to turn casual gamers into globe-trotting fans and long-haul travellers.
Read more: Saudi’s $100bn tourism boom: is your travel business ready?
Esports = tourism ROI (and much more)
Saudi’s esports initiatives are already delivering tourism gold, with EWC 2025 drawing more than 3,000,000 visitors to Riyadh, significantly boosting hotel nights, local spending, and global awareness of the city as a travel and sport destination.
Last year, EWC reached 750 million viewers worldwide and generated 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership of 7.98 million during the League of Legends at EWC ‘25 tournament. Coverage was delivered across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and more than 800 channels in 35 languages. Twenty-five tournaments spanning 24 games featured more than 2,000 players representing approximately 200 Clubs from over 100 countries.
Also, partnerships like the one between Saudia and the EWC goes to show how travel sellers can tailor packages, hospitality add-ons and branded experiences that speak directly to this youthful, connected audience.
In essence, the global rise of gaming tourism is no longer fringe. Travel insights experts note esports events are becoming key motivators for travel decisions, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z, who are both die-hard digital natives and enthusiastic live event travellers.
Whether you’re a tour operator, hotelier or destination marketer, it’s safe to assume that esports is a new travel genre. From record-breaking prize pools to record-breaking visitor numbers, Saudi’s esports and gaming strategy offers a blueprint for tapping into a vibrant, global community of travellers whose definition of tourism is a mix of digital culture and real-world adventure.
So bottom line, update your travel briefs and product lines; and don’t let this digital tourism wave go “game over.” Tickets for EWC 2026 will be available from 22 January 2026 at esportsworldcup.com, and through EWC 2026 international ticketing partners inclduing Webook, Platinumlist, Damai, Maiseat, and Tixr. Early Bird tickets include Weekly Access Passes, Premium Tournament Passes, and Hospitality Packages for the Esports Embassy, the EWC’s premium on-site hospitality destination.
