The Esports Foundation has opened applications for a new Creator Program allocating up to $2M in rewards to co-streamers for the Esports World Cup and the Esports Nations Cup in 2026.
It was announced on June 11, and the initiative is the organization’s largest co-streaming program to date and is now open to creators worldwide. The program is designed to support and incentivize creators who broadcast official tournament feeds to their own audiences across multiple platforms and languages.
Co-streaming expansion and targets
Co-streaming has been a core part of how the Esports World Cup has grown its audience over the past editions. In 2025, around 3,500 co-streamers were rebroadcasting matches to viewers in different regions and languages.
For 2026, the Esports Foundation plans to increase that figure to around 5,000 participating creators. The objective is to extend coverage into new territories. According to the foundation, the program is intended to reflect broader media consumption trends beyond esports.
Program structure and rewards
Approved creators will receive permission to co-stream selected tournaments from both EWC and ENC in 2026 on their own channels. Participation is tied to a Battle Pass-style system in which creators can complete missions, move up leaderboards, and unlock rewards over the course of the events.
These rewards include gift cards, hardware such as gaming gear and consoles, streaming-platform perks, and potential invitations to attend the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup in person. The Creator Program will support a range of major streaming platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, Bilibili, Huya, and CHZZK, with additional platforms also part of the rollout.
The timing of the program aligns with two major events on the 2026 esports calendar. The Esports World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris, France, from July 6 through Aug. 23. Later in the year, the Esports Nations Cup 2026 will be staged in Riyadh in November as a nation-based competition.
Applications for the EWC 2026 Creator Program are currently open via their official page. Previously, Esports Foundation also confirmed a Club Partner Program 2026 lineup, with $1M funding per team.
