Indonesia set to host IESF World Esports Championship 2026

Rituraj Halder Published September 24, 2026

The International Esports Federation (IESF) has officially announced that Indonesia will host the World Esports Championship 2026 (WEC26), running from Dec. 15 to 20, 2026.

The announcement marks a return for multi-title event back to the Southeast Asia for the third time. Returning exactly ten years after Jakarta hosted the 2016 edition and four years following the 2022 beach festival in Bali.

Over 500 national athletes to assemble for five titles at the WEC 2026 

Being one of the biggest international esports showcases on the calendar, WEC26 will be bringing 500 athletes representing over 110 Member National Federations. 

Unlike traditional franchise leagues where players rebrand under corporate banner logos, athletes at the World Esports Championship battle directly under their national flags to claim grassroots country-on-country bragging rights.

The official game lineup for WEC26 features five titles across tactical shooters, MOBAs, battle royales, and sports simulation:

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)
• PUBG MOBILE
• eFootball

The decade-long gap between the 2016 tournament and WEC26 will see quite a transition, as the international gaming scene has dramatically changed.

In the official announcement, IESF President Vlad Marinescu expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian esports community, celebrating their historical contributions, while promising world-class playing conditions for every qualified athlete fighting for gold.

With this, the WEC will be looking to host the biggest country-vs-country esports tournament of the year, especially with the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) postponed to 2027 too.

Other than the high-stakes matches on stage, the event will double as a political hub for global gaming governance, with representatives from 152 Member National Federations gathering in Indonesia for the IESF’s Ordinary General Meeting.

For regional fans who routinely pack stadiums to absolute capacity, having the world’s biggest international esports spectacle land right in their backyard will be a great month for betting on esports as well as witnessing competitive gaming mastery.