Indonesia to Host the IESF World Esports Championship 2026

Indonesia to Host the IESF World Esports Championship 2026

23 Sep, 2026, 19:36

|

Last updated: 23 Sep, 2026, 19:36

The World Esports Championship is returning to Indonesia for the third time, with the 2026 edition set to take place from December 15 to 20.

The country first hosted the championship a decade ago, and its return marks another chapter in the event's history, bringing a new generation of esports athletes and titles to the competition.

World Esports Championship 2026: Titles

Organized by the International Esports Federation (IESF), the WEC26 will feature five titles: Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, and eFootball.

Athletes will compete under their national flags, representing their countries on the global stage. The organization expects more than 500 athletes from over 110 Member National Federations to take part in the tournament.

"We are grateful to our Indonesian Esports Family for their continuous dedication and support of Esports. Together we have made history, organizing the biggest esports event on a beach, in Bali 2022, and now we are sure that together we will provide the best experience and conditions for all athletes who have qualified for this event. They represent their countries and will fight for the opportunity to raise their national flag!"

Vlad Marinescu, President of IESF

Indonesia as a Global Esports Host

Since the first edition in the country, held in Jakarta in 2016, the esports scene has changed a lot. Six years later, Bali hosted the 2022 edition, welcoming athletes eager to represent their nations on the global stage.

Now, Indonesia is set to host the 2026 edition, further strenghening its position as a key esports market and a major destination for international esports events. The event will take place from December 15 to 20.

The host city for the 2027 edition was also revealed as Astana, Kazakhstan.

The WEC was the first esports tournament organized by the IESF, with its inaugural edition taking place in 2009 under the name IESF Challenge. At the time, the event featured only FIFA Online. 

It was later rebranded as the World Esports Championship and expanded to include multiple titles, while also travelling to different cities around the world.


Follow Strafe Esports for the latest news on your favorite esports, and follow our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe's YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured Image Credit: IESF

Read More:

CS2 New Sniper Rifle? Everything We Know About the New Gun

Latest CS2 Update Introduces New Premier Map Selection, Crosshair Styles, and Chicken Egg (?)

Clan Tags Return to CS2 Alongside Silent Reloads

Latest news

Complexity Ceases Operations After 23 Years

Complexity Ceases Operations After 23 Years

Founded in 2003, Complexity has ceased operations after 23 years. Jason Lake explained the decision, thanked the community, and said he is not retiring from esports.
1h
Bruno Rodrigues

Coinbase Hosts Mundo Dodgeball Tournament ft. Tyler1, Pobelter, Alois, and More

Crypto marketplace Coinbase has announced a 1v1 Mundo Dodgeball tournament. League of Legends players in Europe and North America will get to compete in one of the most popular mini-games for a chance to attend the Worlds 2026 finals live in New York, as well as a staggering top prize.
4h
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

CS2 New Sniper Rifle? Everything We Know About the New Gun

References found after the Rush Hour update suggest Valve is testing a weapon called the M14 in CS2, although there is no confirmation that it will be released.
8h
Bruno Rodrigues

Latest CS2 Update Introduces New Premier Map Selection, Crosshair Styles, and Chicken Egg(?)

After months without dropping a significant update, Valve has finally dropped one of the biggest Counter-Strike 2 content updates of 2026. For starters, the update introduces a completely new 3v3 game mode — Rush. It finally brings back Clan tags alongside a silent reload feature. Lastly, the update completely overhauls the Premier Map selection and adds multiple crosshair options and a chicken egg (?).
17h
Ganesh Jadhav

CS2 Introduces First New Game Mode in 3 Years

CS2 has introduced a brand-new game mode after a long time. Called "Rush", this 3v3 mode features fast-paced action. Here's a breakdown of how it works.
18h
Adarsh J. Kumar

Clan Tags Return to CS2 Alongside Silent Reloads

Valve has brought Clan Tags back to Counter-Strike 2 while adding slower silent reloads and several other gameplay and customization changes.
19h
Bruno Rodrigues

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match