Esports Leaders Paris Brings More Than 90 Industry Executives Together During EWC Closing Weekend

More than 90 senior executives and decision-makers from across esports and gaming are set to gather in Paris on August 21 for Esports Leaders Paris 2026, with the executive event taking place during the final weekend of the Esports World Cup.

Organized by The Esports Radar, the event will be held at the five-star Hôtel du Collectionneur in central Paris. The gathering is designed around smaller executive discussions rather than a traditional large-scale esports conference, with roundtables, keynote presentations and networking making up the day's main program.

The timing is deliberate. With the esports industry's biggest teams, tournament organizers, publishers and commercial partners already in Paris for the EWC finale, Esports Leaders gives senior figures from across the industry a chance to meet in one place.

A Who's Who Of The Esports Industry

The confirmed attendee list includes executives and representatives from organizations including Team Liquid, ESL FACEIT Group, G2 Esports, HLTV, Havas Play, Ninjas in Pyjamas Group, Embark Studios, Polymarket, IMG, ESIC and BetBoom.

Demand for the event has reportedly been strong enough for organizers to extend the venue's capacity.

Runestone will serve as Supporting Partner, while Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) joins as Hospitality Partner. Get In returns as Social Media Partner, with Arabhardware serving as Media Partner.

The event will also feature representatives from a range of organizations leading individual roundtable sessions, including the Esports Awards, Adamas Esports, ALHI, SAGES, NiP Group, Get In, Playmakers and the Côte d'Ivoire Esports Federation.

What To Expect At Esports Leaders Paris

The August 21 program will begin with networking and refreshments before moving into the opening keynote and executive discussions.

RTS CEO Stuart Saw will deliver the opening keynote, focusing on EVO, the long-running fighting game tournament and festival. A separate data-focused session will then bring together representatives from SURGE Europe, Gaijin Entertainment and Runestone to discuss the growing role of data in esports ecosystems.

The event's main focus, however, will be its eight roundtable sessions. Rather than relying entirely on traditional panel presentations, the format is built around smaller conversations between senior figures from different parts of the industry.

A premium networking brunch will take place during the afternoon before the main event concludes at 2:30 p.m., with informal networking continuing afterward.

Sam Cooke, CEO and Co-Founder of The Insights Group, said the event will continue the format used by previous Esports Leaders gatherings.

“It’s set to be another great edition of Esports Leaders this time in Paris, with our go-to format of conversation focused roundtables in a beautiful setting with great food and drinks laid on.”

Cooke also highlighted the continued relationship with the Esports Awards, which is preparing for its own major ceremony in Miami later this year.

The EWC Connection Makes Paris A Natural Choice

Holding Esports Leaders during the Esports World Cup's closing weekend gives the event an obvious advantage: much of the global esports industry is already in the French capital.

The EWC's final weekend is bringing teams, publishers, tournament organizers, sponsors, media and executives together in Paris, making it easier for Esports Leaders to attract a concentrated group of decision-makers without requiring them to make a separate trip.

The venue also puts attendees in the center of Paris, near the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. The Hôtel du Collectionneur continues the high-end approach used for previous Esports Leaders editions in cities including London, Austin, Cologne and Lisbon.

The day will also extend beyond the main conference. At 5 p.m., Padel Gaming Club Paris will make its debut at Padel15, following previous editions in London and Austin. The padel event requires a separate ticket from the main Esports Leaders gathering.

With the Esports World Cup reaching its conclusion at the same time, Paris will effectively become a meeting point for the competitive and business sides of the esports industry. Esports Leaders Paris is scheduled for Friday, August 21, 2026, with the Esports Awards' Miami ceremony expected to follow later in the year.

For the latest esports news, tournament coverage, and esports betting updates, stay tuned with UMG Gaming.