EWC 2026 Fan Fest brings together gaming, culture and community
- Titas Khan
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Putting the community at the heart of the experience is one of the core values of the Esports World Cup (EWC). Beyond the tournament stages at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, EWC 2026 marks a new chapter for an event born in Saudi Arabia. Making its first appearance outside the Kingdom, the EWC brings its signature festival-style fan experience to Europe with Fan Fest. A visitor can move from a Team Falcons challenge zone to an open-play area, then to a creator meet-and-greet or an EWC Play Quest, all without leaving the venue.
Running alongside the EWC from 6 July to 23 August, Fan Fest gives visitors another way to experience an event bringing together more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries across 25 tournaments in 24 games. It turns that global competition into a shared experience, bringing fans closer to the games and communities they love.
Qiddiya City Brings Powered by Play to Paris
There is always a crowd around the Qiddiya City Booth. Some are taking on gaming challenges, others are capturing AI-powered moments to share, while groups gather to meet their favorite creators or discover what's coming to Six Flags Qiddiya and Aquarabia. It's the kind of space where fans don't just stop by; they stay, explore, and immerse themselves in the experience. Blending gaming, entertainment, and social moments, the booth reflects the spirit of the EWC, where every visit becomes a memory worth sharing.
Bringing Familiar Faces Closer
The Fan Fest isn’t just where fans came to play; it is where they came face-to-face with the personalities who shape gaming and sports. Throughout the festival, iconic names stepped away from the spotlight of the main stage to share moments with the community, turning casual encounters into some of the event's most talked-about experiences.
During League of Legends week, EWC Game Ambassador Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok drew crowds for a special showmatch, offering fans a rare opportunity to see the esports legend up close.
Fans at EWC 2026 also had the opportunity to watch Al-Hilal’s striker, Karim Benzema, the winner of the Ballon d'Or and five UEFA Champions League titles, to compete in an EA SPORTS FC 26 showmatch in Paris and meet the football legend at Fan Fest. The moment gave visitors a chance to experience a memorable encounter with one of football’s most recognizable names. Recently, tennis star Nick Kyrgios also joined the experience, meeting fans and engaging with the community before watching the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 finals. His visit brought another major figure from traditional sport into the EWC, experiencing the intensity of esports alongside the fans.
Club Houses Put Communities at the Centre
Week 3 brought fans closer to the teams they love as the International Club House came alive. Team Falcons hosted an EA SPORTS FC 26 takeover featuring football-inspired challenges, fan activities, and meet-and-greets, while Team Liquid added its own mix of EA SPORTS FC 26, Trackmania time trials, and open-play experiences. Together, these spaces gave fans a chance to connect, compete, and experience the culture behind their favourite teams.
The Club Houses change with the tournament calendar, giving different organisations a space to engage directly with their supporters. Gentle Mates marked its Paris homecoming with Q&A sessions, VALORANT challenges, and the launch of its trading card game, while T1 and G2 Esports later brought their League of Legends communities together through trivia and in-game competitions.
When manga breaks free from its pages
Fans stepping into the Manga House at EWC 2026 were transported into the world of Attack on Titan through an immersive experience created in partnership with Sony. Bringing iconic scenes and the atmosphere of the series to life, the activation combined video mapping, projection technology, and digital displays to create a larger-than-life showcase where fans could engage with the story in a completely new way.
When Fan Fest Met the City
The Champs-Élysées became a gathering place for gaming fans as the Esports Festival by the Esports World Cup brought the energy of esports into the heart of Paris. With the iconic avenue transformed into an open-air celebration, visitors experienced a unique blend of competition, creativity, and culture.
From team-ups featuring esports professionals, entertainers, and creators across Rocket League, Trackmania, and EA SPORTS FC 26, to the interactive Gaming Culture Village filled with activities, conversations, and community moments, the festival showed how gaming continues to bring people together beyond the screen.
Esports, Experienced at the EWC 2026 Fan Fest
The Fan Fest turns a visit to EWC 2026 into a full-day experience where competition, play, and community come together beyond the arena. From EWC Play Quests and community spaces offering free play sessions, to the chance to team up with gaming heroes and connect with fellow fans, every corner invites visitors to be part of the action.
In Paris, esports is no longer just something to watch, it is something to step into, experience and share.
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