Epic Secures Partnership for EWC 2026 Rocket League and Fortnite Tournaments

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced a partnership with Epic Games to host Fortnite and Rocket League tournaments during the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC 2026). While EWCF organized Fortnite and Rocket League events in 2025, those tournaments lacked official endorsement from Epic Games, a situation that will change in 2026.

The financial specifics of this agreement remain undisclosed.

As part of this collaboration, EWCF will manage the Fortnite Reload Elite Series, the official tournament series for Fortnite Reload, a dynamic 40-player battle royale focused on teamwork and achieving victory. The Reload Elite Series will feature various stages, including “Open Rounds, Play-Ins, Heats, and Finals.” The finals will be streamed on Fortnite Competitive channels, and the results will help identify the top 40 Duos who will advance to the Reload Elite Series Championship at EWC, where competitors will vie for a share of a $1 million USD prize pool and Esports World Cup Club Championship points in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Details regarding EWCF’s plans for Rocket League have not yet been disclosed, but further information is expected soon.

“Fortnite has built one of the largest global player communities and continues to shape gaming, entertainment, and digital culture beyond just the competitive arena,” stated Fabian Scheuermann, chief games officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation. “Hosting the Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship at EWC creates a new global, multi-year competitive ecosystem at the world’s largest esports event. With a vast fanbase worldwide, especially in Saudi Arabia, we eagerly anticipate welcoming the Fortnite community, including fans, pros, and creators to Riyadh next summer.”

EWC 2026 is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the summer of 2026, typically from late July to late August. More information about the competition can be found on the official esports world cup website.

The EWCF and EWC are funded by a sports grant from the Saudi Arabian government’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.

EWC competitions are managed and produced by ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), a subsidiary of Savvy Games Group, which is owned by the Saudi government. The Chairman of the Board is HRH Crown Prince MBS. EFG encompasses tournament organizer ESL, competition platform FACEIT, and the esports and gaming festival company DreamHack.

Projects associated with the Saudi Arabian government, such as the EWC, often face criticism for contributing to “sports washing,” a tactic used to divert attention from the country’s human rights record, including issues related to women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, the treatment of journalists, military actions in Yemen, and more. These concerns have been raised by international watchdog organizations.