Indonesia has announced that it is ready to host the eighteenth World Esports Championship, taking place from 15 to 20 December at ICE BSD City in Banten province. The announcement was made in Jakarta on 9 November, following a four-day inspection of the facilities. The presentation brought together Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir; Muhammad Herindra, General Chairman of the Executive Board of Esports Indonesia -PB ESI-; Reza Subekti, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee; and Boban Totovski, General Secretary of the International Esports Federation -IESF-.
The Indonesian government sees the competition as part of its efforts to promote the country internationally and engage young people. “Sports play a vital role in building Indonesia’s national branding as a major nation that is safe, welcoming, and open to investment,” Thohir said. “Esports is an extraordinary sporting branch with a close connection to the youth.” His remarks position the championship as an opportunity to demonstrate the country’s ability to host international events and attract economic activity, although no specific economic impact estimate has been published for this edition.
From Jakarta and Bali to Banten
This will be Indonesia’s third time hosting the championship, following Jakarta 2016 and Bali 2022, where the hosts were crowned Champion Nation. The return builds on that experience and coincides with PB ESI’s new leadership term for 2026–2030, which began in October. Herindra has identified three priorities: improving hosting capabilities, national-team results and participation across the esports sector. “We want WEC26 not only to succeed as an international competition but also to leave a positive legacy for athletes, communities, industries, and the young generation of Indonesia,” he explained.
The chosen venue allows competition and federation meetings to take place within a convention and exhibition complex. The Indonesia Convention Exhibition -ICE-, located in BSD City, occupies a 22-hectare site and has ten exhibition halls providing a combined 50,000 square metres of exhibition space. It also includes a 4,000-square-metre convention hall and 33 meeting rooms. These figures describe the entire complex, rather than the space allocated to the championship. Banten therefore becomes the third Indonesian location to host the event, following the capital and Bali.
Seven competitions and $500,000 in prize money
IESF expects representatives from 101 countries, more than 160 national teams and over 400 athletes. The programme comprises five games and seven competitions: Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile and eFootball, with separate open and women’s competitions in Counter-Strike 2 and Mobile Legends. The confirmed prize pool totals $500,000 across the seven competitions. The championship is built around national teams and national and regional qualification pathways, giving participants the opportunity to compete as representatives of their member federations.
The host delegation intends to enter all seven competitions and reclaim the overall title won in Bali. PB ESI begins its preparations after winning two silver medals at the 2026 Asian Games, with the national training camp scheduled to start on 16 November and coaches and rosters already determined. “We have been overall champions before, and this time our target is to be overall champions again,” Herindra said at the presentation. Thohir expressed his support for the national-team programme, including opportunities for athletes to compete internationally as part of their preparations.
Member federations will also meet in Indonesia
The championship will include a separate programme for IESF’s member federations. Its Ordinary General Meeting will take place at the venue on 17 and 18 December, alongside Continental Meetings. Bringing national representatives together will allow institutional business to take place during the competition and provide an opportunity to discuss the federation’s future direction. The announcement confirms the meetings, although it does not yet detail the proposals or decisions to be put before members. The combined schedules will bring athletes, organisers and federation officials to Banten during the same week.
Totovski linked Indonesia’s selection to the continuing relationship between IESF and its national partners. “What New York is to the United Nations, and what Brussels is to Europe, Indonesia is becoming for esports: a true world centre, supporting esports worldwide,” he said. The comparison reflects the importance the General Secretary places on the country within the federation’s activities, following three championship hosting awards in a decade. He also suggested that further events could follow: “This is the third time in Indonesia, but one thing is sure: it’s not the last time.”
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