The Esports Foundation has opened applications for a new Creator Program that puts up to $2 million in rewards behind co-streamers broadcasting the Esports World Cup and the Esports Nations Cup in 2026. Announced on 11 June 2026 and open to creators worldwide, it is the organisation’s largest co-streaming push to date, with the Foundation aiming to grow its co-streamer base from around 3,500 in 2025 to roughly 5,000 this year.
How the $2M Creator Program Works
Approved creators receive permission to co-stream selected tournaments from both the Esports World Cup and the Esports Nations Cup on their own channels. Participation runs through a Battle Pass-style system, where creators complete missions, climb leaderboards and unlock rewards over the course of the events. Those rewards include gift cards, hardware such as gaming gear and consoles, streaming-platform perks, and potential invitations to attend the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup in person, all drawn from a $2,000,000 pool that the Foundation is splitting across the two tournaments. The full programme is detailed on the Esports World Cup site.
5,000 Co-Streamers and a Wider Platform List
Co-streaming has been central to how the Esports World Cup has expanded its reach, letting creators rebroadcast official feeds to viewers in different regions and languages. In 2025, around 3,500 co-streamers were carrying matches to their own communities, and for 2026 the Foundation plans to lift that to roughly 5,000 participating creators, with the stated objective of extending coverage into new territories. The Creator Program supports a range of major streaming platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, Bilibili, Huya and CHZZK, with additional platforms also part of the rollout.
When EWC and ENC 2026 Take Place
The Esports World Cup 2026 is scheduled for the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris, France, running from 6 July through 23 August. Later in the year, the Esports Nations Cup 2026 will be staged in Riyadh in November as a nation-based competition, giving co-streamers two distinct events to build their leaderboard runs around.
Applications are open now, ahead of the Esports World Cup kicking off in Paris on 6 July, with the second half of the reward pool tied to the Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh come November.