eSports Olympics: Schedule, events, venue, how to watch and more

The eSports Olympics is one of the next big international events on the horizon in the world of gaming, but with the date of the event expected to change and decisions still to be made over the game titles involved, here is a look at all you need to know about it.

What are the eSports Olympics?

The eSports Olympic Games is an international multi-esport event set to take place in the coming years.

It will be run by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is not to be confused with the former Olympic eSports Series, which previously took place back in 2023.

When are the eSports Olympics?

The eSports Olympics had originally been scheduled to take place this year but is believed to have been delayed and will now likely take place at some point in 2027, meaning it will fall in between the Winter Olympics and the Youth Olympics.

eSports Olympics schedule

The key dates for the eSports Olympics are still not confirmed but the event is expected to take place in 2027.

Where are the eSports Olympics held?

The eSports Olympics will be held in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia with a 12-year deal having been confirmed between the nation and the IOC.

How to watch the eSports Olympics?

There is no confirmation of where the eSports Olympics will be available to watch but popular streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube could be involved.

Previous eSports Olympics

Although there was only one edition of it, the Olympic eSports Series was the closest we have come to having an eSports Olympics like the one expected to start in 2027.

The first and only edition took place in Singapore back in June 2023 and the titles which featured had a link with traditional Olympic sports.

These were chosen by international federations and it could be similar protocol in a future eSports Olympics.

How do the eSports Olympics work?

The 2027 event will be the inaugural edition of the eSports Olympics, although the previous Olympic eSports Series could give some indication of how the event will work.

While medals are awarded in the traditional Olympics, the eSports Olympics are likely to award gold, silver and bronze trophies to the winners, as was the case in the Olympic eSports Series.

The IOC will also determine which eSports titles will feature with titles such as League of Legends, Counter Strike 2 and Valorant not expected to be involved.

Events at the eSports Olympics

While the exact format of the eSports Olympics is not yet clear, there have already been discussions about the game titles and events that could feature.

Popular and iconic first-person shooter titles such as Counter Strike 2, Valorant and Call of Duty, as well as multiplayer online battle arena games like League of Legends will not be in the lineup.

Given these are some of the most popular titles on the eSports scene, that is a big decision to make but the eSports Olympics could still feature other game titles such as Rocket League, EAFC or NBA2K.

How are games chosen for the eSports Olympics?

It remains to be seen which titles will be selected for the eSports Olympics and we do not yet know how these titles will be selected.