The Esports Research Network (ERN) has announced that its annual flagship conference will take place in North America for the first time, with ERNC27 scheduled for 9 to 11 November 2027 at NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Preceded by half-day pre-conference workshops on 8 November at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library, the sixth edition of the peer-reviewed gathering is hosted by NC State University with institutional support from municipal destination marketing organisation Visit Raleigh.
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Operating under the theme “Think & Do: Where Research, Competition & Community Converge,” ERNC27 aims to connect academic scholars with tournament operators, collegiate directors, and commercial stakeholders. According to ERN Chair and University of Agder Associate Professor Tobias M. Scholz, “esports research has moved beyond the question of whether esports deserves serious study. Thequestions now are practical ones, from player health to governance and business models, and they are best answered together with the people who run competitions and build communities.”
Co-chaired by Slippery Rock University Associate Professor Seth E. Jenny and Michigan State University Associate Professor Amanda C. Cote, the conference programme is structured around three core strands: esports research, competition, and community.
Cote noted that pairing NC State’s integrated collegiate esports and research infrastructure with Raleigh’s municipal investment in hosting professional tournaments makes “North Carolina the right place for the first ERNC in North America.”
“The strength of esports research lies in its diversity of perspectives and its potential to make a meaningful impact beyond academia,” added Jenny.
Founded at ESL One Cologne in 2019 and registered as a non-profit association since 2020, the Esports Research Network currently comprises 682 members across 70 countries. ERNC27 continues the organisation’s international expansion following previous editions in Paris, Jönköping, London, and its Asian debut at the University of Tsukuba in Japan in September 2026.
The ERNC27 Scientific Committee has opened its interdisciplinary call for abstracts, accepting up to 500-word proposals for in-person presentations, pre-recorded online sessions, posters, panels, and workshops until 4 January 2027. with the form for submission available at the event’s official website. Acceptance decisions will be issued on 15 March 2027 ahead of delegate registration opening on 3 April 2027, with plenary sessions set to be broadcast globally via ERN’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
