Honor of Kings World Cup 2026 launches in Paris with $3 million prize

The Honor of Kings World Cup 2026, part of the Esports World Cup, will commence on July 30 in Paris, France, and conclude with the Grand Finals on August 8. The tournament features 20 elite teams from across the globe competing for a $3 million prize pool.

For the first time, the competition merges the Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor circuits, using a custom patch based on Season 15 with 111 playable heroes, offering extensive strategic depth and ban‑pick flexibility. The format includes a Play‑In stage, group stage, and playoffs, ending with a best‑of‑seven final.

Teams represent regions including India, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Brazil, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with notable entrants such as AG. AL (defending champion), Buriram United Esports, Team Flash, Blacklist International, BOOM Esports, Titan Esports Club, Virtus.pro and others.