The Esports World Cup is officially returning in 2026, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the biggest esports spectacles of the year. Organised by the Saudi government-backed Esports World Cup Foundation, the third edition of the tournament will once again bring together the world’s most prestigious competitive titles, and some fresh surprises are still on the way.
The organisers have confirmed the first 20 games for next year’s line-up, covering everything from MOBAs and shooters to fighting and strategy titles. Fans can expect top-tier esports like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, VALORANT, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang to headline the competition once again.
A full roster of confirmed titles includes:
- Apex Legends
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Chess
- Counter-Strike 2
- Crossfire
- Dota 2
- EA Sports FC 26
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Free Fire
- Honor of Kings
- League of Legends
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Overwatch 2
- PUBG: Battlegrounds
- PUBG Mobile
- Rainbow Six Siege X
- Street Fighter 6
- Teamfight Tactics
- VALORANT
That still leaves four more titles yet to be revealed, keeping fans guessing as the organisers tease new additions in the coming months.
We’re coming back in 2026 with a squad of the most prestigious esports titles 🏆
And four are yet to be announced 👀 pic.twitter.com/H4IjHRxMBC
— Esports World Cup (@EWC_EN) October 8, 2025
Returning heavyweights and rising contenders
Interestingly, all 20 of the currently announced games featured at the 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup. While that means no brand-new titles have been confirmed yet, the organisers have promised that four more will join the line-up before the event kicks off. Last year’s additions included CrossFire, Fatal Fury, Chess, and VALORANT, so there’s every chance the upcoming reveals could introduce another mix of mainstream and niche favourites.
Chess continues to be a surprising but successful inclusion. Earlier this year, Magnus Carlsen partnered with Chess.com to launch a weekly qualifying series that will serve as an official route to the Esports World Cup 2026, proving that even non-traditional esports are finding a growing audience.
A growing global spectacle
The Esports World Cup has quickly become a cornerstone of the competitive gaming calendar. First launched in 2024 to replace Gamers8, the event has since expanded in scale and influence. The 2025 edition was a record-breaker, drawing millions of viewers worldwide and posting a massive 51.3% increase in total watch time, with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s Mid Season Cup 2025 surpassing 3 million peak viewers.
Now, with another stacked line-up and continued backing from major publishers and global organisations, the Esports World Cup 2026 is looking to top those numbers. With four unannounced titles still to come, fans can expect more reveals as the countdown to Riyadh begins.