The Esports Awards and the Esports Foundation (EF, former Esports World Cup Foundation) have announced a three-year extension of their global partnership, securing their collaboration through to 2028.
Central to this renewed agreement is the launch of the EWC Players’ Choice Award, a new accolade determined exclusively by professional players. To maintain integrity, the voting process, overseen by the Esports Awards, prohibits participants from voting for themselves or teammates.
Eligible voters must have competed in at least one qualifying S, A, or B-Tier tournament during the official competitive season. Voting is scheduled to run from 1 July to 18 August 2026, coinciding with the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris, France.
The upcoming EWC 2026, scheduled for 6 July to 23 August, will serve as the backdrop for the new award’s voting campaign, which includes player interviews and nominee reveals to drive engagement throughout the seven-week tournament period.
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The partnership extension also signals a structural change for the Esports Awards ceremony. The organisation has confirmed that the 2026 edition will be held in the United States, initiating a new rotating host city model. This shift follows previous ceremonies hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the EWC program, including the 2024 ceremony and the 2025 “Decade Awards.” According to the organisation, the latter attracted over 10 million votes and 15 million live and VOD viewers.
Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, commented on the strategic objectives behind the collaboration: “The Esports Foundation has done an incredible job in generating mainstream attention, and industry exposure outside of the standard circuit. Our partnership has enabled us to expand our operations and footprint.”
The roots of the Esports Awards dates back to 2016, when it was established in London as the eSports Industry Awards before fully rebranding to the Esports Awards in 2018 and initiating an expansion into the United States, with ceremonies held in Arlington, Texas, and later Las Vegas. The partnership with the Esports Foundation, first established in June 2024, marked a significant shift in the platform’s scale, facilitating its transition to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the 2024 ceremony and the 2025 Decade Awards.
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