Astana will host the IESF World Esports Championship 2027 -WEC27-. The International Esports Federation -IESF-, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation signed the host agreement in the Kazakh capital, placing the city among the major meeting points on the international esports calendar in 2027.
WEC27 will bring together athletes, teams, officials, fans and federations from around the world at IESF’s flagship international event. The organisation expects more than 150 Member Federations to take part in the qualifiers, within a model in which players compete through recognised national structures and officially represent their countries under their national flags.
A World Championship based on national teams
The championship will feature several official competitions and maintain the federative approach IESF has built around the World Esports Championship. National teams will compete through the organisation’s recognised Member Federations, within a framework based on fair play, integrity, inclusion, international cooperation and cultural exchange. For IESF, the event’s distinctive value lies in giving players the opportunity to compete not only for a title, but also for their country.
IESF president Vlad Marinescu placed the announcement in that same context. “WEC27 will be more than a championship. It will be a global celebration of nations, athletes, and the future of esports,” he said. He also underlined the symbolic weight of national representation: “For every player, there is no greater honour than competing under their national flag and officially representing their nation on the world stage.” Marinescu added that Astana “will welcome the world” and highlighted the “vision, ambition and commitment” shown by Kazakhstan in hosting the event.
Astana, technology and youth
The host agreement was signed as part of the official launch of a new university campus initiative in Kazakhstan, linking the championship to a broader agenda of education, technology, innovation and youth development. The country is placing esports within a strategy that goes beyond competition and connects the event with opportunities for young people, international cooperation and digital progress.
Yerbol Myrzabosynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, defended that institutional dimension of the project. “We are honoured that the International Esports Federation has entrusted Kazakhstan with hosting the World Esports Championship 2027,” he said. According to Myrzabosynov, the decision “reflects the confidence in our country’s ability to deliver an event of the highest international standard” and reinforces Kazakhstan’s commitment to esports, youth, sport, technology, education and international cooperation.
Kazakhstan enters IESF’s recent map
Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qazaq Cybersport Federation, described the agreement as “a historic milestone” for the country’s esports community and thanked IESF for the trust placed in Kazakhstan. “Alongside IESF, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and our national stakeholders, we are committed to delivering an outstanding championship for athletes, fans and the World of Esports,” he said. He also stated that WEC27 should “inspire future generations, accelerate the growth of esports in Kazakhstan and strengthen the country’s position as an esports and digital innovation hub.”
The choice of Astana extends a period of international rotation for the championship, which in recent editions has been staged in Bali, Iași and Riyadh, while also placing Kuala Lumpur on IESF’s recent calendar with the WEC 2025 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang event. The 2026 host city does not yet appear to have been clearly confirmed in the official information available; in parallel, part of the competitive programme postponed from 2025 was still awaiting final venue and date details. In the coming months, IESF will announce the WEC27 competition schedule, qualification pathway, specific venues, official titles, ticketing details and full event programme.
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