EWC 2026 connects with audiences around the world through PlayStation consoles across tournament competition, alongside celebrations of anime and manga culture, and a documentary from Sony Pictures Television
RIYADH / PARIS (July 02, 2026) – The Esports Foundation (EF), in collaboration with Sony Group Corporation (Sony), today announced an expanded program of player and fan experiences at the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), set to be hosted in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23, 2026.
Esports World Cup 2026, supported by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company behind PlayStation, will feature PlayStation consoles across the tournament competition and throughout the event, while fans attending EWC 2026 will have opportunities to experience the latest game releases, and participate in community tournaments.
Alongside Sony Interactive Entertainment, EWC 2026 will work with global anime brand Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Television to connect esports with film, anime, music, and fan communities, shaping how audiences around the world experience EWC 2026.
“We are excited to welcome Sony’s iconic brands to the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris this year,” said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer of the Esports Foundation. “Fans today don’t separate gaming, anime, film, and entertainment. They move between them every day, and Sony is already part of how millions of people spend their time. As our brand continues to grow, together with Sony, we are expanding the EWC experience that reaches more audiences beyond the competition itself.”
The collaboration also includes Esports World Cup: Level Up, the documentary produced by This Machine, part of Sony Pictures Television, and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler. Distributed globally through Prime Video, the series follows players and Clubs and personalities competing at EWC. Following its debut in 2025, Level Up returns for a second season this year.
As part of the festival experience, fans attending EWC 2026 will also have the opportunity to explore an immersive manga-themed activation featuring iconic scenes from popular Japanese manga. The experience is designed as an interactive “manga library” environment that responds to visitors’ movements.
EWC extended its collaboration following the success of last year’s event, which welcomed more than 3 million visitors to Riyadh last summer. PlayStation brand integrations were featured across tournament and community experiences,
Last season, EWC also collaborated with Sony and Crunchyroll to bring anime and manga culture to Japan Park, one of the festival’s largest fan destinations, featuring globally recognised IP. Building on this moment, EWC 2026 Paris edition will continue to create opportunities for fans to play, compete and engage with the event throughout the seven-week festival.
The partnership formed part of EWC’s Founding Partners campaign, bolstered by city-wide activations in China, which generated more than 168 million impressions and 116 million video views globally during the 2025 event. Across seven weeks, the Esports World Cup reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated more than 350 million hours watched.
The Esports World Cup 2026 will be hosted in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23, bringing together more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries across 25 tournaments and 24 games for a record-breaking $75 million+ prize pool.
To learn more about EWC, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow Esports Foundation on LinkedIn.
