The Esports Foundation has announced the postponement of the inaugural Esports Nations Cup. The competition, originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will now take place in November 2027.
The decision was influenced by the situation in the region. Prior to the announcement, the organizers consulted with National Team Partners, publishers, and other tournament partners.
The Esports Nations Cup is set to bring together representatives from over 100 countries and territories across all continents. Given the scale of the event and the current uncertainty in the region, the Esports Foundation believes that postponing the tournament is the best option for ensuring it takes place under appropriate conditions.
The venue remains unchanged—the ENC will take place in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, large-scale sports and entertainment events in the country continue to be held as planned.
“Postponing the ENC was not an easy decision. At the same time, the response from National Team Partners, publishers, players, and communities around the world has shown just how much potential this tournament has. We want to host the first ENC under the right conditions and at the level it deserves. Moving the event to Riyadh next year does not change our plans. We will continue to support National Team Partners, collaborate with publishers, and develop national ecosystems around the competition. Our work continues, and our ambitions for the ENC remain unchanged,” said Ralph Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation.
UESF Responded to the Rescheduling of the Esports Nations Cup
“This decision was not an easy one for the organizers, but we understand it. The unstable situation in the region makes it impossible to guarantee the safety of all participants and, at the same time, to anticipate how events might unfold under various scenarios. Ukrainian esports athletes know all too well how difficult it is to pursue their passion during a war. Despite this, they showed character and managed to advance to the main stage of the tournament.
At the same time, the ENC has already established itself as a leading national competition of world-class caliber. I am convinced that an additional year will allow us to implement many interesting initiatives and improve the organizational aspects. “The hardest part is launching a new product for the first time. For its part, the Ukrainian national team will return in 2027 even stronger and better prepared for future competitions,” said UESF CEO Andriy Gryshchenko.
In the coming weeks, the Esports Foundation will continue to work with all partners and provide details regarding the updated qualification schedule and other changes.
You can follow the latest news on the UESF website and the federation’s official social media pages.
The Ukrainian Esports Federation (UESF) is the official national organization responsible for the development and regulation of esports in Ukraine. Under the leadership of President Maksym Krippa, the federation organizes national championships, represents Ukraine internationally, and develops the domestic esports ecosystem.
The UESF served as the tournament’s official National Team Partner, forming Ukrainian teams in nine disciplines and coordinating their participation in the qualifiers. The federation will continue this work in the future, preparing Ukrainian national teams to compete in the ENC in 2027.