Gaming
Paris esports festival puts India in global gaming spotlight
Indian clubs lead record EWC 2026 presence as Paris hosts public festival
MUMBAI: This weekend, the Champs-Élysées won’t just echo with footsteps, it will reverberate with controller clicks and victory cheers. Paris is set to turn one of the world’s most iconic boulevards into a giant esports arena as the Esports Foundation hosts the Esports Festival on 2 August, bringing competitive gaming out of exhibition halls and into the heart of the French capital.
Held on the Champs-Élysées and co-created with the Comité Champs-Élysées, the free, open-air event aims to introduce esports to a wider audience while celebrating a French gaming community that already includes more than 11.8 million esports participants and over 2 million regular viewers.
The festival comes as the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 continues at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, extending the tournament’s reach beyond its competitive venue with creator appearances, live competitions, interactive gaming zones and educational sessions designed to attract families, casual gamers and dedicated esports fans alike.
For India, the event coincides with its largest-ever representation at the Esports World Cup, underlining the country’s growing influence in competitive gaming.
Indian organisations S8UL and GodLike Esports were selected for the Esports Foundation’s 2026 Club Partner Programme and are competing across mobile, PC and console titles, including Chess. Beyond competition, both organisations are engaging Indian audiences through creator-led content and nationwide watch parties.
They are joined by Revenant Xspark, Global Esports, Orangutan, Apex Gaming, Total Gaming and True Rippers, with Indian athletes qualifying across multiple esports titles through official competitive pathways.
Chess has also strengthened India’s presence at the tournament, with a dedicated India Rising qualification event hosted in Mumbai, highlighting the country’s expanding role in the global esports ecosystem.
At the centre of the Paris festival will be a showcase featuring three pioneers of French esports alongside leading personalities from music, entertainment and digital content. Mixed teams will compete in exhibition tournaments and showmatches across titles including Rocket League, Trackmania and EA SPORTS FC 26.
Away from the main stage, visitors will be able to experience hands-on gaming activities, meet professional players and teams, and attend panel discussions exploring the business, culture and competitive landscape of esports.
The festival also reflects the Esports Foundation’s broader ambition of making esports more accessible by taking competitive gaming beyond dedicated arenas and into public spaces. For India, meanwhile, the record representation at EWC 2026 signals that the country’s esports ambitions are no longer just loading, they are firmly entering the global arena.
