Saudia named official airline of Esports World Cup 2026

Dhaka: Saudia, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, has been named the Official Airline of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026, expanding its partnership with the Esports Foundation as the tournament holds its first international edition in Paris.

As part of the deal, Saudia unveiled a specially branded aircraft dedicated entirely to an esports event, described as the world's first commercial jet of its kind. The livery was revealed during a ceremony at Saudia Technic in Jeddah, attended by government officials, partners, media, and content creators.

The branded aircraft will operate daily flights between Riyadh and Paris throughout the tournament and continue flying across Saudia's international network for the next two years, serving as a long-term symbol of the partnership.

As the official airline, Saudia is supporting the EWC through dedicated travel arrangements connecting players, fans, clubs, and event staff between the two cities. Passengers can access EWC content, including the documentary "Esports World Cup: Level Up," through BEYOND, the airline's inflight entertainment system.

Selected live tournament broadcasts will also be shown in Saudia lounges during the event. The airline said it has already flown thousands of staff, handpicked Superfans, creators, and players to Paris, with more journeys planned in the coming weeks.

Through its EWC Superfan program, Saudia is bringing selected fans to watch the tournament in person, alongside MENA-based content creators producing on-site coverage for regional audiences.

The partnership also extends beyond travel, with Saudia's community Fortnite tournament returning for a second year. The 2026 edition introduces a new custom map featuring a branded airport and aircraft based on the real EWC livery, while winners will receive tickets to the Paris event.

Last year the EWC drew more than three million visitors to Riyadh. The 2025 Saudia-EWC partnership was formalized through an interactive digital signing platform.

This year's tournament runs in Paris through August 23, bringing together more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries to compete in 24 games and 25 tournaments for a prize pool exceeding USD 75 million.