Esports Nations Cup 2026 Adds Honor of Kings to the Games Lineup

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (February 8, 2026) - The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced that Honor of Kings as the latest of 16 world-class titles that national teams will compete in at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 through 29, 2026. As one of the world’s most popular mobile esports titles, Honor of Kings brings its best esports players to the world’s biggest stage.

Here’s everything you need to know about Honor of Kings at ENC 2026:

SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

• The Honor of Kings tournament at ENC will begin on November 24, 2026, and will conclude with the playoff final on November 29, 2026.
• 24 teams in total will compete in the Honor of Kings tournament.
• The first stage will consist of 24 teams competing in a round-robin group stage, featuring four groups of six teams.
• The top four teams from each group will advance to the next stage. The second stage consists of a 16-team single-elimination playoff stage.

RANKING SYSTEM AND QUALIFIER INFO

24 teams will compete at the Honor of Kings event at ENC 2026:

• The top 12 teams will be directly invited based on the ENC National Team Ranking
• 9 teams will be able to qualify through ENC regional qualifiers
• 3 teams will come from the Wildcard slots

The Esports Nations Cup will determine its direct invites via the ENC National Team Ranking for Honor of Kings, which will take into account official HoK events, awarding points to Clubs, with those points equally shared across all Club teammates who participated. The national ranking will then accumulate the points of the top five players on the submitted national roster. The cut-off date for the Honor of Kings National Team Ranking is June 7, 2026.

The Honor of Kings regional qualifiers will take place from July 3 to 5, 2026. Qualifiers will be double-elimination brackets, hosted in each of the following regions:

• North America + North Latin America (1 slot)
• South Latin America (1)
• Western Europe (1)
• Eastern Europe + Central Asia (1)
• Middle East (1)
• North Africa (1)
• Southeast Asia + Oceania (1)
• East Asia (1)
• South Asia (1)

HONOR OF KINGS AT THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP

The Honor of Kings World Cup 2025 gave fans one of the most thrilling moments in recent esports history. In a seven-game grand final, AG.AL (China) came back from a 1–3 deficit to edge out TT Global (China) in seven games. Every game was packed with tension, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats until the very last play. The final featured Ultimate Battle, a blind draft format, which not only makes every match unpredictable but also highlights the tactical skill and adaptability of the top Honor of Kings players.

The series has already gone down in EWC history and sets the stage for what promises to be another exciting showdown at the Esports Nations Cup 2026.

Additional information about the Esports Nations Cup will be released in the coming weeks. To stay up to date, visit esportsnationscup.com, and follow ENC on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and follow the Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.

About the Esports Nations Cup

The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is a biennial global esports competition created by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) that brings national pride to the world stage. Launching in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2026, the ENC will feature the world’s best players competing not for their clubs, but for their countries and territories, across a lineup of leading esports titles. Built in collaboration with game partners, clubs, and esports organizations, the ENC establishes the first recurring, large-scale platform for national teams in esports. Beyond competition, it aims to fuel fandom, inspire heroes, and provide sustainable pathways for nations, players, and partners to grow within the global esports ecosystem. esportsnationscup.com

About Esports World Cup Foundation

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) is a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to advancing and professionalizing the global esports industry. Through the annual Esports World Cup (EWC) and the biennial Esports Nations Cup (ENC), EWCF brings together the world’s top players, leading clubs, and millions of fans for the biggest stages in competitive gaming. Beyond hosting tournaments, the Foundation works year-round to grow the esports ecosystem, support talent development, and create lasting opportunities for players, teams, and partners worldwide.

Esports Nations Cup media contact:
[email protected]