Saudi Arabia has become the undisputed capital of competitive gaming. What began as a single summer festival in 2022 has grown into the Esports World Cup — the largest prize-pool event in esports history, held annually in Riyadh. Whether you are a hardcore Dota 2 fan, a casual Fortnite viewer or simply a traveller drawn by the spectacle, attending an esports event in the Kingdom is now a legitimate reason to plan a trip. This guide, part of our complete Saudi Arabia travel guide, covers everything you need to know: the tournaments, the venues, how to get tickets and what to do between matches.
Best Time to Visit: July–August (Esports World Cup season at Boulevard Riyadh City)
Getting There: Fly into King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh — direct flights from most major hubs
Visa Required: Yes — tourist e-visa available for 63 nationalities
Budget: $80–200/day (event tickets from ~SAR 100; mid-range hotels from $90/night)
Must-See: Esports World Cup at Boulevard City, gaming cafés across Riyadh, Qiddiya Gaming District (opening soon)
Avoid: Booking late — VIP and tournament passes sell out weeks in advance
From Gamers8 to the Esports World Cup: A Brief History
Saudi Arabia’s esports ambitions trace back to Gamers Without Borders, a charity tournament launched in April 2020 during the pandemic, which raised $10 million for COVID-19 relief. The event proved that Saudi Arabia could host world-class online competition, and the Saudi Esports Federation began planning something far larger.
In 2022, the Federation launched Gamers8, an eight-week in-person gaming and esports festival held at Boulevard Riyadh City. The inaugural edition featured tournaments in Dota 2 (branded as the Riyadh Masters), Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six Siege and Rocket League, with a combined prize pool of $15 million. It was the biggest esports event the Middle East had ever seen.
Gamers8 returned in 2023 as “The Land of Heroes” with an expanded $45 million prize pool — at the time, the largest in esports history, surpassing even The International’s Dota 2 record. That year, 15 elite tournaments ran simultaneously, including the final FIFAe World Cup held on EA’s FIFA series. The event also introduced the Club Awards, a $5 million cross-game competition won by Saudi team Twisted Minds.
In October 2023, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the Esports World Cup (EWC) as Gamers8’s successor — a permanent annual fixture under the National Gaming and Esports Strategy. The 2024 inaugural EWC featured 22 game titles, a $62.5 million prize pool, and crowned Team Falcons as the first Club Champions. By 2025, the event had expanded to 25 tournaments, $71.5 million in prizes, more than 3 million in-person visitors to Boulevard Riyadh City and 750 million viewers online.
Esports World Cup 2026: What to Expect
The third edition of the Esports World Cup runs from July 6 to August 23, 2026 at Boulevard Riyadh City. It is the largest esports event ever staged, with a record $75 million total prize pool — $39 million distributed across 25 individual game championships and $30 million allocated to the Club Championship for the top 24 organisations worldwide. The remaining $6 million covers community events and side competitions.
More than 2,000 elite players from 200 clubs representing over 100 countries will compete across seven weeks of back-to-back tournaments. For visitors to Riyadh, the EWC transforms Boulevard City into a festival city-within-a-city, with over 50,000 square metres of gaming zones, live music stages, cosplay areas, retro arcades, anime cafés and creator studios running alongside the competitive matches.
Full Game Lineup and Schedule
The 2026 EWC features 25 tournaments across 24 game titles. New additions this year include Trackmania, Fortnite (returning via Reload mode), Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and EA Sports FC 26. Here is the confirmed schedule:
| Game | Dates | Prize Pool | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALORANT | Jul 2–12 | $2,000,000 | 16 Teams |
| Dota 2 (Riyadh Masters) | Jul 6–18 | $2,000,000 | 24 Teams |
| Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves | Jul 7–10 | $1,000,000 | 32 Players |
| Apex Legends | Jul 7–11 | $2,000,000 | 40 Teams |
| MLBB Women’s International | Jul 13–17 | $500,000 | 16 Teams |
| Free Fire | Jul 15–18 | $1,000,000 | 24 Teams |
| League of Legends | Jul 15–19 | $2,000,000 | 16 Teams |
| Teamfight Tactics | Jul 21–25 | $500,000 | 16 Teams |
| PUBG Battlegrounds | Jul 21–26 | $2,000,000 | 24 Teams |
| EA Sports FC 26 | Jul 22–26 | $1,500,000 | 36 Players |
| MLBB Mid Season Cup | Jul 22–Aug 1 | $3,000,000 | 25 Teams |
| Street Fighter 6 | Jul 28–31 | $1,000,000 | 32 Players |
| Overwatch 2 | Jul 29–Aug 1 | $1,000,000 | 16 Teams |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | Jul 29–Aug 1 | $1,000,000 | 32 Teams |
| Honor of Kings | Jul 30–Aug 8 | $3,000,000 | 20 Teams |
| PUBG Mobile | Aug 3–16 | $3,000,000 | 32 Teams |
| Tekken 8 | Aug 4–7 | $1,000,000 | 32 Players |
| Rainbow Six Siege X | Aug 4–14 | $2,000,000 | 22 Teams |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 | Aug 5–9 | $2,000,000 | 16 Teams |
| Chess | Aug 11–15 | $1,500,000 | 21 Players |
| Rocket League | Aug 12–16 | $1,000,000 | 16 Teams |
| Counter-Strike 2 | Aug 12–23 | $2,000,000 | 32 Teams |
| Trackmania | Aug 17–21 | $500,000 | 32 Players |
| CrossFire | Aug 18–22 | $2,000,000 | 16 Teams |
| Fortnite | Aug 19–22 | $1,000,000 | 40 Teams |
Tip: Three to four games run concurrently each week. If you can only visit for a few days, plan around your favourite title. The grand finals of each tournament are usually on the last scheduled day and draw the biggest crowds.
The Club Championship
The Club Championship is the EWC’s signature innovation — a cross-game points race that rewards the most versatile esports organisations. Clubs earn points based on their teams’ finishes across all 25 tournaments. The top 24 clubs share $30 million, with first place taking $7 million. Team Falcons won the 2024 and 2025 editions, and defending your title with 2,000+ players competing across two dozen different games is one of the most demanding challenges in professional sport.
The Venue: Boulevard Riyadh City
Every major Saudi esports event since 2022 has been held at Boulevard Riyadh City, a 220-acre open-air entertainment district in the Hittin neighbourhood, developed as the flagship zone of Riyadh Season. During the EWC, the venue is divided into distinct zones: the main competition arena (Kingdom Arena), festival grounds with free-to-play gaming stations, food streets with dozens of restaurants, merchandise shops, and themed experience areas.
How to Get There
Boulevard Riyadh City is located on Prince Turki Al-Awwal Road in northern Riyadh, roughly 20 minutes by car from King Khalid International Airport (traffic permitting). Options for getting there:
- Ride-share (Uber/Careem): The most practical option. Drop-off points are close to the main gates, avoiding the parking hassle. Expect SAR 25–50 from central Riyadh.
- Private car: On-site parking zones along Prince Turki Al-Awwal Road are signposted. Arrive early on weekend evenings — parking fills fast during major finals.
- Riyadh Metro: The new Riyadh Metro system has stations within reach of Boulevard City. Check the latest route maps for the nearest stop.
Note: Security screening at entry gates can take 15–30 minutes on peak nights (typically Thursdays, Fridays, and any grand final day). Build this into your schedule.
What to Expect Inside
The EWC Festival runs alongside the competitive tournaments and is included with general admission. Past editions have featured:
- Retro arcades — classic cabinets and vintage consoles
- Anime cafés and cosplay zones — including cosplay competitions with cash prizes
- Creator studios — meet top streamers and content creators
- Live music and DJ sets — evening entertainment after matches
- Fireworks displays — weekend highlights
- Community tournaments — open-entry competitions for amateurs
- Merchandise shops — official EWC and team gear
Tickets and Pricing
Tickets for EWC 2026 went on sale January 22, 2026 and are available through the official Esports World Cup website and international ticketing partners including Webook (Middle East), Platinumlist (Middle East and India), Tixr (US and EU), and Damai (China).
Ticket Types
| Ticket Type | What’s Included | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Day Pass | Access to one day’s matches and festival grounds | ~SAR 100 ($27) |
| Tournament Pass | Access to all days of a specific game tournament | ~SAR 500 ($133) |
| Weekly All Access Pass | Access to all events during one week of the EWC | ~SAR 750 ($200) |
| Full Event VIP | All seven weeks, premium seating, backstage access | ~SAR 5,000+ ($1,333) |
Tip: Saudia Airlines partners with EWC to offer all-in-one Early Bird travel packages that bundle return flights, hotels near Boulevard City, and an All-Access Pass. Check Saudia Holidays for availability — these represent strong value if you are flying in from outside the region.
Free Festival Access
In previous years, sections of the EWC Festival — including the gaming zones, food areas and community stages — have been accessible with a general Boulevard City entry ticket (SAR 25–50), even without a tournament-specific pass. This makes it possible to experience the atmosphere and watch matches on large outdoor screens without paying for arena seating.
The Riyadh Masters: Dota 2’s Saudi Chapter
The Riyadh Masters is the Dota 2 championship within the Esports World Cup and one of the most prestigious tournaments on the Dota 2 calendar. It originated as the standalone Dota 2 component of Gamers8 in 2022 and has been part of the ESL Pro Tour circuit.
In 2025, 16 teams competed for $3 million in the Riyadh Masters, with Team Spirit defeating Falcons in the grand final with a dominant 12-1 game record. The 2026 edition expands to 24 teams and a $2 million prize pool, running July 6–18. For Dota 2 fans, the Riyadh Masters is second only to The International in prestige — and with TI’s prize pool no longer crowdfunded, it arguably offers a more consistent stage.
Beyond the EWC: Year-Round Esports in Saudi Arabia
While the Esports World Cup dominates July and August, Saudi Arabia’s esports calendar extends throughout the year. The Riyadh Season, which typically runs from October to March, regularly features gaming tournaments and esports exhibitions alongside its broader entertainment programme.
Saudi Esports Federation Events
The Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) organises domestic leagues and community tournaments year-round, including qualifiers for international competitions. If you happen to be in Riyadh outside of summer, check the SEF’s event calendar for local tournaments — many are held at the SEF Arena, a dedicated esports venue that opened as a year-round facility.
Riyadh Season Gaming Zones
During Riyadh Season (October–March), Boulevard City and other Riyadh Season zones host pop-up gaming experiences. These range from VR installations to console tournaments and are usually included in the general Riyadh Season admission. If you are visiting Riyadh during winter — the more comfortable season climate-wise — you will still find gaming content alongside the concerts, exhibitions and sporting events that make up the Riyadh Season calendar.
Gaming Cafés and Esports Lounges
Riyadh and Jeddah both have a thriving gaming café scene, useful for killing time between EWC sessions or if you want to play rather than watch. Some notable venues:
Riyadh
- High End Esports Arena — a trendy esports venue with advanced hardware and a coffee shop, from SAR 20/hour
- Duel Arena — hosts regular FIFA tournaments, entry from SAR 100 for competitive events
- Fury Games Center — community-focused with regular tournaments and events, play from SAR 15/hour
- Level Up Gaming Lounge — in the Hittin area (near Boulevard City), welcoming to tourists and locals
- True Gamers — UAE-based chain expanding to multiple Riyadh and Jeddah locations, with high-performance PCs and ultra-responsive monitors
Jeddah
- ZNTRX Gaming — professional-level esports centre with new PCs, VR experiences, racing simulators and a training academy
- Area 51 — in Al Marwah, with high-end PCs and PlayStation 5 rooms, especially busy on weekends with tournaments
Note: Gaming cafés in Saudi Arabia are generally male-dominated spaces, though this is gradually changing. Some venues have dedicated family or mixed sections — check ahead if this matters to you.
The Future: Qiddiya Gaming and Esports District
The most ambitious development on the horizon is the Gaming and Esports District at Qiddiya City, a mega-entertainment destination being built 40 kilometres southwest of central Riyadh. The district will be the world’s first purpose-built mixed-use gaming and esports hub, featuring:
- Four dedicated esports venues, including one of the world’s three largest esports arenas with over 5,155 seats
- 4D immersive technology — haptic systems that let spectators feel and even smell the action
- Full-time training facilities for up to 25 resident esports clubs
- Gaming-themed hotels and apartments
- Regional headquarters for 30+ game development studios
- A combined peak tournament capacity of 73,000 spectators across all venues
The arena design, by global firm Populous (architects of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the new Everton ground), features what the designers call the largest total video-screen area of any esports arena in the world. Qiddiya’s Gaming District is a core pillar of Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to make the Kingdom a global gaming hub by 2030. The district is expected to attract up to 10 million visits per year once fully operational.
Saudi Arabia’s $38 Billion Gaming Bet
The esports events are part of a far larger investment. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has allocated $38 billion to Savvy Games Group, the state-backed gaming conglomerate tasked with making the Kingdom a global centre for gaming and esports. In January 2026, PIF transferred roughly $12 billion in gaming company shares — including stakes in Nintendo and Bandai Namco — to Savvy Games Group.
For visitors, this investment translates into tangible infrastructure: world-class venues, well-organised events, and a Kingdom that treats gaming not as a niche hobby but as a national priority. Saudi Arabia’s gaming market grew 19% in 2024, and two-thirds of the Saudi population identify as gamers — making it one of the most gaming-engaged countries per capita on earth.
Practical Tips for Esports Travellers
When to Go
The EWC runs July 6 to August 23, which is peak summer in Riyadh. Daytime temperatures regularly exceed 45°C (113°F). The good news: the esports events are entirely indoors or under climate-controlled outdoor structures, and they run primarily in the evenings and at night. Plan your days around staying cool (hotel pool, shopping malls) and heading to Boulevard City after sunset.
What to Wear
Saudi Arabia’s dress code is relaxed for tourists at entertainment venues. At Boulevard City during EWC, casual attire is fine — shorts and t-shirts are common. Cosplay is welcomed and encouraged. Be aware that air conditioning inside the arenas can be aggressive, so bring a light layer.
Visas
Citizens of 63 countries can obtain a Saudi tourist e-visa online in minutes. The e-visa is valid for one year with multiple entries and allows stays of up to 90 days. It costs approximately SAR 535 ($143) including insurance. If your nationality is not on the e-visa list, check whether you qualify for a visa-on-arrival or need to apply through an embassy.
Where to Stay
Hotels near Boulevard City in the Hittin and Olaya districts fill up during EWC. Book early. Budget options start around SAR 300–400/night ($80–107), while premium hotels near the venue charge SAR 800–1,500+ ($213–400+) during peak weeks. The Saudi Arabia hotels guide covers options across all price ranges.
Food and Drink
Boulevard City has dozens of restaurants and food stalls inside the venue. Outside, Riyadh’s restaurant scene is extensive — see our Riyadh travel guide for neighbourhood dining recommendations. Saudi Arabia does not serve alcohol; soft drinks, Arabic coffee and fresh juices are the standard beverages.
Connectivity
Free Wi-Fi is available inside Boulevard City, but it can be slow during peak hours with tens of thousands of connected devices. Pick up a local SIM card (STC, Mobily or Zain) at the airport for reliable 5G data throughout Riyadh. Expect to pay SAR 50–100 ($13–27) for a tourist data package.
Safety
Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries in the world for tourists. Boulevard City has extensive security, including bag checks at entry. The main concerns are heat-related: stay hydrated, wear sunscreen during daytime excursions, and do not underestimate the summer temperatures.
Combining Esports with a Wider Saudi Trip
If you are flying to Riyadh for the EWC, consider extending your trip to explore more of the Kingdom. Some natural combinations:
- Riyadh itself: The capital has far more to offer than esports — from the Diriyah UNESCO site to the Edge of the World escarpment. See our Riyadh travel guide for the full picture.
- Jeddah and the F1: If your trip overlaps with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix season, a side trip to Jeddah combines two of the Kingdom’s biggest sporting spectacles.
- Formula E in Riyadh: Another motorsport event held in the capital, usually during Riyadh Season.
- MDL Beast Festival: Riyadh’s massive electronic music festival, also part of Riyadh Season, draws many of the same international visitors.
Key Dates for 2026
| Event | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| EWC 2026 — Full Event | July 6 – August 23 | Boulevard Riyadh City |
| VALORANT Championship | July 2–12 | Boulevard Riyadh City |
| Dota 2 Riyadh Masters | July 6–18 | Boulevard Riyadh City |
| League of Legends | July 15–19 | Boulevard Riyadh City |
| Counter-Strike 2 | August 12–23 | Boulevard Riyadh City |
| Fortnite | August 19–22 | Boulevard Riyadh City |
| Club Championship Final | Late August | Boulevard Riyadh City |
Explore More Saudi Arabia Travel Guides
- Saudi Arabia Travel Guide 2026 — The complete guide to visiting the Kingdom
- Riyadh Season Calendar — Month-by-month events guide for the capital’s entertainment season
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix — Fan guide to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit
- Saudi Pro League Football Guide — How to watch and attend matches
- Boxing in Saudi Arabia — Upcoming fights and how to get tickets
- Saudi Arabia Visa Guide — Every visa type explained