The Esports Awards and the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) have announced a three-year partnership that brings the world’s most prestigious esports awards ceremony and platform to the Esports World Cup, the world’s largest gaming festival set to take place this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The 2024 Esports Awards will be held on August 24 in Riyadh as a dynamic gala that honours the best in esports from every corner of the globe, celebrating clubs, athletes, content creators, games and more. The partnership ensures that the Esports Awards will deliver on a grander scale than ever before, with elevated experiences at the Lifetime Achievement mixer, Red Carpet Event, Esports Village and the awards ceremony itself. Fans can vote on awards finalists when they are revealed on June 27.

Since its inception in 2015, the Esports Awards has earned a reputation for recognising excellence in esports globally and supporting initiatives to grow the industry. Over the past decade, it has evolved from a London dinner event into the premier global awarding body and de-facto platform for esports recognition.

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The global red carpet event has hosted unforgettable events in London, Dallas, and Las Vegas and now comes to Saudi Arabia for the first time. Last year’s star studded ceremony attracted over 22 million viewers and saw some of the biggest brands, athletes and publishers take home thirty awards across Entertainment, Industry, Creative, Pro, On-Air Talent and Collegiate categories. The event also secured a Guinness World Record for largest digital video game display when WWE superstars and gaming legends alike played Pac-Man on a 100,000 square foot screen.

As the industry advances, acknowledging the events shaping competitive gaming’s future is crucial. By hosting its annual event in a significant and growing esports hub like Saudi Arabia, the Esports Awards can further its mission alongside the Esports World Cup, one of the most exciting esports events of the year.

“Partnering with the Esports World Cup enables us to offer an even more exceptional experience to our nominees, guests and viewers. The Esports Awards have always been dedicated to celebrating incredible achievements in esports, so we naturally saw the opportunity to join forces with EWC in Riyadh as an excellent fit. The Middle East is home to one of the fastest growing and most passionate esports communities in the world and I’m delighted to be bringing the awards to the region for the first time. I cannot wait for this year’s ceremony, which I expect will be the most impressive and memorable one yet,” Michael Ashford, CEO of Esports Awards, said.

“Hosting the Esports Awards in Riyadh enriches the Esports World Cup, bringing the entire world together to commemorate esports excellence. Here, we can support the Esports Awards as a valuable bridge between Eastern and Western audiences. The Esports Awards is a fantastic gala that celebrates stakeholders from across the global esports ecosystem, recognizing not only competitive greatness but also greatness in production, broadcasting, leadership, creative design and more. I’m excited to attend the Esports Awards this year in Riyadh and honor the best in esports,” Ralf Reichert, CEO of Esports World Cup Foundation, said.