The Esports World Cup (EWC) has officially locked in its full lineup for 2026, and the final spot goes to Trackmania.
Trackmania is Ubisoft’s time-trial racing phenomenon, joining the world’s largest multi-title gaming event, bringing a $500,000 prize pool and a new flavor of competition to Riyadh this summer.
The announcement comes through a new multi-year partnership between the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and Ubisoft Nadeo, confirming Trackmania as the 24th and final title in this year’s roster.
With that, the EWC now boasts a versatile field that stretches from FPS giants like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Counter-Strike 2, to MOBAs such as League of Legends and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (two of the most watched esports events in 2025), fighting staples such as TEKKEN 8 and Street Fighter 6, all the way to esports mainstays like Dota 2, Fortnite, and VALORANT.
But unlike most of its fellow titles defined by team strategy, gunplay, or character abilities, Trackmania strips competition down to pure skill. Every racer drives the same car, on the same track, with no upgrades or random elements to rely on.
“Trackmania has always been one of gaming’s purest level playing fields: same car, same track, no RNG – it is all about precision, memory, and nerve,” said Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer at EWCF. He described its debut on the EWC stage as a landmark moment.
Ubisoft Nadeo’s Managing Director Florent Castelnerac echoed that sentiment, calling the EWC inclusion “a major milestone for Trackmania.“
EWC 2026 Trackmania teams, players, and format
The Trackmania championship at EWC 2026 will feature 32 racers, and the event kicks off with group stages using double elimination in four-player lobbies, followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket where the top 16 fight for the title in Riyadh.
Eight racers will earn their place through open in-game qualifiers launching later this month alongside a major game update in January 2026, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the Trackmania Nations Electronic Sports World Cup.
With Trackmania on board, the EWC 2026 lineup is now officially complete. A total of 24 games representing nearly every major esports genre on the planet. The Esports World Cup returns to Riyadh later this year, uniting players, teams, and fans for what’s shaping up to be esports’ biggest summer yet.
