The Esports World Cup 2026 officially kicked off in Paris, France, with Aya Nakamura, DJ Snake, Theodora and Mosimann headlining a ceremony that officially opens the first international edition of the EWC, welcoming players, clubs, and fans from more than 100 countries to seven weeks of competition.
Combining music, cinematic storytelling, competition and Parisian culture, the ceremony marked the beginning of seven weeks of competition that will bring together more than 2,000 players, 200 clubs, and representatives from over 100 countries competing across 25 tournaments in 24 games for a record-breaking $75 million prize pool.
From the first moments of the show, the ceremony celebrated the journey that brings players to the Esports World Cup 2026 while introducing Paris as the host city for a new chapter in the competition’s history. Live performances from Aya Nakamura, Theodora, DJ Snake and Mosimann were woven throughout a production that combined orchestral music, dance, augmented reality, large-scale stage design and cinematic visuals to connect esports with the culture of its host city.
One of the defining moments of the evening saw the Esports World Cup Club Championship trophy revealed before representatives from the world’s leading esports Clubs took to the stage, signalling the start of the race to become the world’s best.
The evening opened with an esports-focused pre-show hosted by Doigby before transitioning into the Opening Ceremony, which was designed for both the live audience at La Seine Musicale and millions watching around the world. DJ Snake closed the global broadcast before continuing with an extended live performance, followed by a closing set from Mosimann for the audience in Paris.
“The Opening Ceremony is our welcome to the world – that our historic event is open,” said Mike McCabe, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer at the Esports Foundation. “As we bring EWC 2026 to Paris for the first time, we wanted to celebrate the city through artists who have helped shape music and culture in France today. Aya Nakamura, DJ Snake, and Theodora each represent something different, but together they reflect the creativity and influence that make Paris such a special place to host this event.”
Throughout the ceremony, audiences also heard the EWC 2026 Orchestral Anthem, created in collaboration with 2WEI Music and Hollywood Scoring. Written as the musical identity of this year’s tournament, the anthem accompanies the journey of players and fans throughout the competition, from qualification to championship, and features throughout the Opening Ceremony and tournament broadcast.
