The inaugural Esports Nations Cup will not take place in 2026, as originally planned. The Esports Foundation announced that the competition in Riyadh has been rescheduled for November 2027.
The decision was prompted by the situation in the region. Before making the decision, the organizers discussed the tournament’s future with National Team Partners, publishers, and other stakeholders.
The ENC is set to be a major international event—representatives from over 100 countries and territories across all continents plan to participate. That is why the Esports Foundation decided not to take any risks and to reschedule the tournament for a more favorable time.
The location remains unchanged: Riyadh will still host the competition. Meanwhile, other major sports and entertainment events in Saudi Arabia continue to take place according to schedule.
Esports Foundation CEO Ralph Reichert called the postponement a difficult decision but noted that the interest shown by partners, publishers, players, and communities has confirmed the ENC’s significant potential. According to him, the organization will continue to work with national partners and publishers, and plans for the tournament’s development remain unchanged.
The UESF’s Position and Future Plans
Andriy Gryshchenko, CEO of the Ukrainian Esports Federation, called the postponement of the ENC an understandable move given the situation in the region. According to him, current conditions do not allow for the full guarantee of participants’ safety or for predicting how events will unfold.
At the same time, he noted that Ukrainian esports athletes know firsthand how difficult it is to continue their professional careers during wartime. Despite all the difficulties, the Ukrainian national team managed to show resilience and advance to the main stage of the competition.
According to Gryshchenko, the extra year will benefit the ENC. The tournament has already attracted significant attention as an international competition among national teams, and the postponement gives organizers more time to prepare and implement new ideas.
“Launching any new product for the first time is the most challenging stage. I am confident that by 2027, we will be able to make ENC even better. The Ukrainian national team will also use this time to come back stronger and prepare more thoroughly for future matches,” said the UESF CEO.
Meanwhile, the Esports Foundation plans to continue working with its partners in the coming weeks. The organizers are also expected to release an updated qualifying schedule and announce other changes related to the tournament’s postponement.
The latest news can be found on the UESF website and official social media pages.
The Ukrainian Esports Federation (UESF) is the national organization responsible for the development and regulation of esports in Ukraine. Under the leadership of President Maksym Krippa, the federation organizes national competitions, represents the country on the international stage, and works to develop Ukraine’s esports infrastructure.
As part of the ENC, the UESF served as Ukraine’s official National Team Partner: the federation formed the national teams and coordinated their participation in the qualifiers. This work will continue even after the tournament is rescheduled—Ukrainian teams will prepare to compete at the ENC in 2027.