Esports Nations Cup is Coming to Riyadh This November

  • Publish date: Tuesday، 10 February 2026 Reading time: two min read

Global national-team esports tournament set for Riyadh with multi-title competition and massive prize commitments.

The Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a major new global esports tournament, is set to debut in Riyadh this November, bringing a first-of-its-kind, nation-versus-nation competition to the Kingdom’s capital.

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Organised by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the Esports Nations Cup will run from November 2 to November 29, 2026, and will feature national esports teams from around the world vying not only for glory but for national pride across multiple game titles.

The tournament marks a departure from traditional club-focused esports events by emphasising national representation. Countries from regions including North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East & North Africa, Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania are expected to take part in the month-long competition.

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A number of high-profile esports titles have already been announced as part of the ENC line-up. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will be among the headlining games, with 32 national teams competing for honours in Riyadh, while Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 are set to feature as national competitions within their respective genres.

In a nod to both traditional and modern competition formats, Chess has also been added to the ENC roster, with 128 players representing their nations in a Rapid format tournament during the early phase of the event, highlighting the expanding footprint of classic strategy games within the esports ecosystem.

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The EWCF has pledged a $45 million contribution to support players, clubs and national teams across prize money, incentives and long-term national team development, signalling a significant investment in the growth of global competitive gaming.

The ENC is being positioned as a biennial event and will launch from Riyadh before adopting a rotating host city model in future editions, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s rising status as a hub for international esports and gaming culture.