The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced the dates of the competition and the prize model for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC). This new global esports competition is built around national teams, national pride and iconic rivalries.
The inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 to 29 November 2026. Complementing the club-based Esports World Cup, it gives players the chance to represent their nation and offers fans a direct way to connect with the competition.
Backed by a three-part funding commitment totalling $45 million, the ENC 2026 will support the esports ecosystem through player and coach prizing, club release incentives, and national team development. ENC 2026 will include $20 million in prize money, which will be paid directly to players and coaches across 16 titles. Additionally, the EWCF will provide $5 million in club incentives for esports clubs that release their professional players to participate in the ENC, with rewards tied directly to their players' performance at the event. The EWCF will also provide $20 million through the previously announced ENC Development Fund to support official national team partners with logistics, travel, programme operations, national team marketing and the long-term growth of national team pathways.
"National teams bring a powerful new layer to esports, one that is accessible, intuitive, and rooted in identity and pride," said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. "Clubs are the cultural backbone of esports. Nation-based competition expands the stage, creates new rivalries, and gives more fans a reason to care from day one. Our prize model is designed to keep competition fair and sustainable, rewarding performance while supporting the long-term development of players, Clubs, and national programs."
The ENC introduces a placement-based prize framework that is applied to all game titles. Every qualified participant earns prize money and is guaranteed at least three matches. The same finishing position pays the same amount per player across all titles, and coaches are rewarded alongside players for the same placement. First place awards $50,000 per player, whether they are competing in a solo title or as part of a team. Second place awards $30,000 per player and third place awards $15,000 per player. For team titles, payouts increase with roster size.
The ENC will launch in Riyadh in November 2026, after which it will adopt a rotating host-city model. The event will be held every two years to provide a dependable structure. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania and Dota 2 have already been confirmed for the ENC 2026, with additional titles to be announced in the coming days.
