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Mohammed bin Salman and Macron attend 2026 esports closing ceremony in Paris
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron attended the closing ceremony of the 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris. AG. AL won the championship with 5,300 points, while the event distributed more than $75 million in prize money.
The 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris concluded with a closing ceremony attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron.
During the ceremony, Macron presented AG. AL with the championship award for the 2026 Esports Clubs World Cup. The champion team reached 5,300 points and won the $7 million grand prize.
Prize pool exceeds $75 million
Clubs and players received prizes based on their results and rankings across different games. The tournament's total prize pool exceeded $75 million.
The amount was the highest total prize pool ever reached in the global esports industry. The ceremony also highlighted Mohammed bin Salman's support for esports and gaming.
Participants came from 100 countries
This year's event lasted seven weeks, from July 6 to August 23. The Paris events brought together initiatives focused on competition and innovation.
More than 200 teams and 2,000 professional players from 100 countries took part in the tournament. The athletes competed in 25 different tournaments featuring leading electronic games from around the world.
Ticket sales for the esports matches increased by 94 percent. Audiences in different countries followed the contests closely.
More than 850 million people worldwide watched the matches broadcast on digital platforms. Total viewing time exceeded 440 million hours, while the broadcasts were produced as a global media production in 47 languages.
Paris event assessed in the context of bilateral relations
Esports Foundation Chief Executive Officer Ralf Reichert said the tournament benefited from Mohammed bin Salman's sustained and strong support. Reichert described holding the event in Paris as a new stage in the tournament's international journey.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to France began on Friday. It was his fourth visit to France since assuming office.
His previous visits took place in April 2018, July 2022 and June 2023. His attendance at the ceremony in Paris was viewed in the context of relations between Saudi Arabia and France, as well as efforts to expand cooperation in sports, culture and the creative industries.
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